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Cooney Brothers Announces Coo Leadership Transition

Cooney Brothers recently announced that General Manager Brian Bartlett has transitioned into COO leadership as tenured COO Jake Fegely prepares to retire later this year.

Effective March 3^rd 2025, Fegely took on the role of Director of Ecommerce while he continues to support Brian through this important transition.

“I’ve been quite fortunate to spend the last 14 years of my career with Cooney Brothers. It’s been a great group of people to work with, and we’ve had opportunities to tackle some exciting challenges,” Fegely said. “Brian brings the leadership, philosophy, and values that make him a great fit for Cooney Brothers. Combined with his background, the company is positioned to grow and develop well into the future.

Bringing 29 years of operational and managerial leadership experience, Bartlett joined Cooney Brothers in September of last year with the plan to eventually assume the COO role after gaining a full understanding of the company’s operations.

Bartlett’s background spans from national retailers to northeast leading wholesalers to his most recent position with the manufacturer representative agency B.J. Terroni Company, Inc. His experience with similar products, suppliers, and wholesale distribution has given him a well-rounded foundation in operational team leadership and relationship-building that naturally aligns with Cooney Brothers’ culture.

“Cooney Brothers has always been about people and relationships,” Bartlett explained. “We’re not just another vendor showing up to talk about products—we work hard to understand our customers’ unique challenges and bring both real expertise and creative solutions to help them succeed. As we move forward, my focus is on investing in our people, strengthening those relationships, and building on the foundation that has made Cooney Brothers a trusted name in our industry for generations.”

Following a 32-year career in industrial distribution, Fegely helped shape the reputation Cooney Brothers has built with its customers, community, and the industry throughout his 14 years as COO. As he prepares for full retirement by the end of 2026, he looks forward to travelling, woodworking, playing the guitar, and enjoying more time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

“It’s bittersweet to see Jake move on to his next chapter,” said Gerry Cooney, President of Cooney Brothers. “He has been a great friend and an indispensable member of our leadership team—someone as close to ‘family’ as an employee can be without being a blood relative—and his contribution to the company’s success has been mighty!”

“In the months that Brian’s been with Cooney Brothers, our belief that he was ‘right for our culture’ has been confirmed,” Cooney added. “He will be a great leader for the company! I’m very pleased that we are filling our Team-For-The-Future with talented, quality people who will ensure that the Cooney Brothers legacy continues.”

Cooney Brothers is a distributor of PVF, steam, sanitary, and institutional plumbing products, providing a wide range of customer-focused solutions, including custom assembly, training, and other value-added services. Family-operated since 1937, Cooney offers a very personalised service through its knowledgeable staff and close manufacturer relationships. Specialising in steam, sanitary, and hard-to-find products, Cooney has established itself as a “go-to” distributor for customers in pharmaceutical plants, food and beverage processing facilities, OEMs, general industrial, power generators, as well as institutional facilities such as hospitals and universities. To learn more about Cooney Brothers, visit https://www.cooneybrothers.com/.