Fran Rooney

Fran Rooney is an Irish businessman, barrister-at-law and is the executive chairman of healthcare company Blocknubie Limited, which supplies solutions in the blockchain and artificial intelligence.

Michael Pureser founded Baltimore Technologies in the 1970s.

He had been a football manager, managing several teams and took on the role of the Republic of Ireland women's national football team manager from 1986 to 1992.

After his role at the FAI, Rooney worked with several other companies and qualified as a barrister.

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 (achieved FTSE 100 status) with a market capitalization of €13.6 billion, 1,400 employees and offices in 23 cities worldwide.

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.

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.

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.

Rooney took his Leaving Cert at CBS Westland Row.

He played football with Home Farm, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians.

While working, he trained as an accountant at night.

He subsequently became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Internal Auditors and Irish Computer Society.

His early career included roles in

In 2000, Mr. Rooney was awarded Businessman of the Year and was presented with his award by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.

He was Bank of Ireland Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001.

He has a football background and was CEO of the Football Association of Ireland from 2003 to 2004.

He is also a chartered accountant and fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.

As CEO of the cryptography and data security company 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.

He was chief executive officer of the Football Association of Ireland from May 2003 to November 2004.

He became CEO to bring about change in the running of football because of his passion for the game.

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.