Fran Rooney ( born 1956 in Dublin) is an Irish businessmen and Barrister-at-Law.[1]
Rooney started his career in the Irish Government sector which he joined from school, with various roles in the Postal, Telecoms and Civil Aviation sectors. He spent 16 years there, educating himself part time.[2]
From there, Rooney worked at National Irish Bank where he was responsible for Asset Finance, Credit Card and Corporate Finance operations.
Following this he was Managing Director of Meridian Vat Processing Limited, a start-up company that was successfully developed and sold a number of years later.
He was asked by well-known Irish businessman Dermot Desmond to help restructure one of Desmond's investments, Quay Financial Software. Following restructuring the company was sold to a major Japanese corporation in 1995.
Desmond, Rooney and Michael Smurfit then acquired Baltimore Technologies, and Rooney served as CEO from 1996-2001.[3] In 1998 Bill Clinton and Bertie Ahern signed an Electronic Commerce deal using Baltimore's technology. Under Rooney's leadership Baltimore underwent several successful mergers, became a member of the FTSE 100, and was also successfully listed on the NASDAQ. Baltimore Technologies was Company of the Year in 1998 and 2000. In 2000, Mr. Rooney was awarded Businessman of the Year and was presented with his award by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese[1]. He was Bank of Ireland Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001. In July 2001, Rooney quit Baltimore Technologies.[4][5]
He was Chief Executive Officer of the Football Association of Ireland from May 2003 to November 2004.[6]
In September 2005, Vimio plc listed on the AIM Stock Market in London while Rooney was Chairman.
Mr. Rooney is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Fellow of the Irish Computer Society and a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors. He also has qualifications in Law from Kings Inns, Information Technology and Administrative Science. He is a member of the Board of the People in Need Trust. He is a member of Council of the United Nations Association in Ireland and was a member of the Board of GOAL, the international humanitarian aid world charity,.[7]
He holds a Black Belt in Kickboxing and has also trained in Taekwondo.
He played for Shamrock Rovers, Home Farm and St Patrick's Athletic and coached football and Gaelic Football teams. He continued to play football and became a football manager eventually managing the Republic of Ireland women's national football team from 1986 - 1992. He continued to play Soccer and become a football manager eventually managing the Irish Women National Soccer Team Manager from 1986 - 1992. − [8].