{{Short description|Irish businessman (1956–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Fran Rooney | birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|12|2|df=y}} | death_date = {{Death date and given age|2024|5|20|67|df=y}} | occupation = Businessman, sports executive, barrister-at-law | office = CEO of the Football Association of Ireland | predecessor = Brendan Menton | successor = John Delaney | term_end = 3 November 2004 | term_start = 1 May 2003 | office2 = Manager of the Republic of Ireland women's national football team | predecessor2 = Eamonn Darcy (footballer) | term_end2 = 1991 | term_start2 = April 1986 | successor2 = Linda Gorman | birth_place = Ringsend, Dublin, Ireland | death_place = Dublin, Ireland | spouse = Mary (divorced) | children = 3 }}
'''Fran Rooney''' (2 December 1956 – 20 May 2024) was an Irish businessman, sports executive and barrister-at-law. He had a football background and was the CEO of the Football Association of Ireland from 2003 to 2004. He was also a chartered accountant and fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Former Baltimore Technologies, FAI CEO Fran Rooney has died |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/05/21/former-baltimore-technologies-fai-ceo-fran-rooney-has-died/ |date=21 May 2024 |access-date=19 July 2024 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=}}</ref>
As the CEO of Baltimore Technologies, Rooney took the company from a small operation to a global enterprise with a market capitalisation of $13.6 billion that was twice named Ireland's company of the year. Rooney was also presented with the 2000 Businessman of the Year by the President of Ireland and 2001 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Bank of Ireland.<ref name=":2">[https://businessandfinanceawards.com/hall-of-fame/ Business & Finance Awards Business Person of the Year]</ref> Rooney was the subject of considerable media interest both in Europe and the US following his involvement with Baltimore Technologies and was the subject of an RTÉ documentary in the ''Raging Bulls'' series.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/he-flew-too-high-too-fast-and-greatly-paid-the-price/26417507.html |title=He flew too high, too fast and greatly paid the price |date=2006-10-15 |access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref>
==Early life== Rooney was born to John and Dolores in Ringsend on 2 December 1956.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Fitzmaurice |first1=Aidan |last2=Weckler |first2=Adrian |date=22 May 2024 |title=Fran Rooney, former FAI and Baltimore Technologies CEO, dies aged 67 |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fran-rooney-former-fai-and-baltimore-technologies-ceo-dies-aged-67/a236309008.html |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=Irish Independent |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=John |date=4 May 2003 |title=Rooney rises up for the challenge |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/rooney-rises-up-for-the-challenge-v357mc7h2sp |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 May 2024 |work=The Times |language= |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Fran Rooney obituary: Poster boy for the dotcom crash who regretted nothing |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/obituaries/2024/06/01/fran-rooney-obituary-poster-boy-for-the-dotcom-crash-who-regretted-nothing/ |access-date=2 June 2024 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=}}</ref> He took his Leaving Cert at CBS Westland Row.<ref name="it-profile-1">{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Madeline |title=Fran who fell to earth |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fran-who-fell-to-earth-1.357817 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=3 May 2003 |language=en}}</ref> Rooney played football with Home Farm, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians. He subsequently became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, Institute of Internal Auditors and Irish Computer Society.<ref name="blpage">[https://www.lawlibrary.ie/members/fran-rooney-bl/ Fran Rooney Law Library]</ref>
Early in his career; he was the General Manager of National Irish Bank from 1990 to 1993, the Managing Director of Meridian from 1993 to 1994 and the CEO of Quay Financial Software from 1994 to 1996.<ref name="it-profile-1" />
== Baltimore Technologies == Michael Purser founded Baltimore Technologies in the 1970s.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/1999/jan/14/internet.privacy Tales from the encrypt]</ref> In 1996, it was acquired by a team funded by Dermot Desmond and led by Fran Rooney. As CEO, Rooney developed Baltimore Technologies into a global data security company. He developed products, marketed the company and listed on the NASDAQ and London Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of €13.6 billion, 1,400 employees and offices in 23 cities worldwide.<ref>https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/thecom-millionaires-26140128.html Irish Independent</ref>
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, Rooney was awarded Businessman of the Year and was presented with his award by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessandfinanceawards.ie/recipients.html |title=Past Recipients |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206102627/http://www.businessandfinanceawards.ie/recipients.html |archive-date=6 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was the Bank of Ireland Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001.<ref>[http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2001/12/30/story953118728.asp Article from The Post charting Rooney's career] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041213111437/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2001/12/30/story953118728.asp |date=2004-12-13}}</ref><ref name=whatheydidnext>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2923978/What-they-did-next-Fran-Rooney.html What they did next - Fran Rooney]</ref>
==Football career== Rooney was the chief executive officer of the Football Association of Ireland from 1 May 2003 to 3 November 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |last3= |date=2003-07-11 |title=Rooney plays hardball when it comes to business of football |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-10052266.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Irish Examiner |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pogatchnik |first=Shawn |date=2004-11-04 |title=Rooney quits Ireland role |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/nov/04/newsstory.sport12 |access-date=2024-05-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Rooney became CEO to bring about change in the running of football. Previously, he had an active career as a footballer, playing for Shamrock Rovers, Home Farm and St Patrick's Athletic and coaching football and Gaelic Football teams. He had been a football manager, managing several teams and took on the role of the Republic of Ireland women's national team manager from April 1986 to 1991.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 April 1986 |title=Irish Independent, Special Edition |access-date= |work=Irish Independent |pages=13 |quote=The Ladies Football Association of Ireland announced the appointment of Fran Rooney as manager of the Republic of Ireland's international team.}}</ref><ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1986/0821/Pg016.html#Ar01608:2AC8682DB87D28A8682A587D Irish Times article (paid subscription required)]</ref>
== Post-Football Association of Ireland career == After his role at the FAI; Rooney was the Executive Chairman of Vimio from 2004 to 2005, Ice Broadband from 2004 to 2008 and Mingo since 2017.<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/from-tycoon-to-legal-eagle-at-52-26462902.html Irish Independent]</ref><ref name=whatheydidnext /><ref name=":3">[https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-rooney-6a9029104/?originalSubdomain=ie Fran Rooney LinkedIn]</ref>
== Personal life and death == Rooney was married to Mary and had 3 children, along with 2 grandchildren. The couple later divorced and he had a partner named Jackie.<ref name=":1" /> He resided in Castleknock.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Liam |date=26 May 2024 |title=Obituary: Fran Rooney, businessman who took IT firm Baltimore Technologies to stock market highs and later became the first FAI chief executive |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/obituary-fran-rooney-businessman-who-took-it-firm-baltimore-technologies-to-stock-market-highs-and-later-became-the-first-fai-chief-executive/a174488773.html |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=Irish Independent |language=}}</ref>
Rooney died of cancer in Dublin, on 20 May 2024, aged 67.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 May 2024 |title=Fran Rooney |url=https://rip.ie/death-notice/fran-rooney-dublin-castleknock-557060 |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=RIP.ie}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Goodbody |first=Will |author-link=Will Goodbody |date=21 May 2024 |title=Ex-FAI, Baltimore Technologies boss Fran Rooney has died |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/0521/1450519-ex-fai-baltimore-technologies-boss-fran-rooney-has-died/ |journal=RTÉ |language= |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Fran Rooney obituary: Irish tycoon in Celtic tiger and dotcom era |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/fran-rooney-obituary-irish-tycoon-in-celtic-tiger-and-dotcom-era-tn8t0scxd |access-date=3 August 2024 |publisher=The Times |date=1 August 2024}}</ref> His cremation took place on 24 May in Ballymount after a funeral in Castleknock.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wrona |first=Adrianna |date=24 May 2024 |title=Funeral of ex-FAI chief and tech founder Fran Rooney hears of life filled with 'achievement, love and boundless generosity' |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/funeral-of-ex-fai-chief-and-tech-founder-fran-rooney-hears-of-life-filled-with-achievement-love-and-boundless-generosity/a2012956737.html |access-date=27 May 2024 |website=Irish Independent |language=}}</ref>
== Awards and honours == * Businessman of the Year 2001<ref name=":2" /> * Entrepreneur of the Year 2001<ref name=":4" /> * Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland<ref name=":3" /> * Fellow of the Irish Computer Society<ref name=":3" /> * Fellow of the Institute of Internal Auditors<ref name=":3" />
== Education == * Honourable Society of Kings Inns<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2004 |title=WR CBS 150 Cuimhneachán |url=http://www.rowppu.ie/WR%2520CBS%2520150%2520Cuimhneach%25C3%25A1n.pdf |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=RowPPU}}</ref> * Bachelor of Law Degree 2008<ref name=":5" /> * Diploma in Legal Studies 2004–2007<ref name=":5" /> * Degree in Administrative Science<ref name=":4" />
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Republic of Ireland women's national football team managers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rooney, Fran}} Category:1956 births Category:2024 deaths Category:League of Ireland players Category:Businesspeople from Dublin (city) Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players Category:Home Farm F.C. players Category:Football Association of Ireland officials Category:Republic of Ireland women's national football team managers Category:Men's association football players not categorized by position Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Republic of Ireland association football managers Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen