However, he was a highly successful executive, helping RKO turn around its financial performance from the George J. Schaefer regime.
[2][3] Born to a Jewish family[4] in New Orleans, he worked in theaters after school and went on to attend Shattuck Military Academy.
After returning from the war, he managed several theater chains until one was sold to Hughes-Franklin in 1931 and he became the personal representative of Harold B. Franklin.
It was originally a temporary assignment during executive Joseph Breen's illness, but the job became permanent and Koerner was given a free hand over production.
"[8]) He also ended the contract between RKO and Pare Lorentz[9][10] and wrote off more than $500,000 in story properties including Sister Carrie.
[12] He had successes with films from director Edward Dmytryk such as Hitler's Children, Murder, My Sweet, and Back to Bataan.
Koerner supported Thomas Dewey in the 1944 United States presidential election.
He made decisions quickly and firmly, he could be convinced, and he had the one truly great executive talent — once he delegated authority, he never interfered.