Cooney Brothers Announces COO Leadership Transition
Brian Bartlett Steps into COO Role and Jake Fegeley Assumes as Director of Ecommerce Before Retiring Later This Year
Cooney Brothers is entering an exciting new chapter as General Manager Brian Bartlett has transitioned into the role of Chief Operating Officer, while longtime COO Jake Fegely prepares for his retirement later this year.
Effective March 3rd 2026, Jake assumed the role of Director of Ecommerce, where he will continue to support Brian throughout the transition.
After 14 incredible years with Cooney Brothers, Jake has had a direct hand in our growth and culture as well as the reputation we’ve built with our customers and partners over the years. He understood the importance of choosing the right person for the COO role, knowing all too well how vital the position is in ensuring operations run smoothly—from the moment an order is received to the quick turnaround and delivery our customers expect.
“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,” Jake said with confidence. “It is good to be able to walk away knowing things are in very capable hands.”
Bartlett brings 29 years of operational and managerial leadership experience to the role. Since joining Cooney Brothers in September 2025, he has worked closely with leadership to gain a full understanding of our operations, culture, and the people who make it all possible.
“Cooney Brothers has always been about people and relationships. We’re not just another vendor showing up to talk about products—we work hard to understand our customers’ challenges and bring real expertise and creative solutions to help them succeed,” Brian explained. “I’m excited to help lead a team that takes so much pride in solving problems and going above and beyond for the people we serve.”
Brian’s background spans from national retailers to leading Northeast wholesalers to most recently, the manufacturer representative agency B.J. Terroni Company, Inc. Before Cooney Brothers, Brian worked directly with very similar products, manufacturers, and customers, even working representing manufacturers we carry like Taco.
As he steps into the COO position, Bartlett is focused on continuing to strengthen this foundation of product expertise and operational leadership, as well as Cooney Brothers’ future success:
“My goal in this role is to continue supporting our team, strengthening relationships, and building on the culture of service, expertise, and accountability that has defined Cooney Brothers for generations.”
Following a 32-year career in industrial distribution and a 14-year tenure with Cooney Brothers, Jake’s contributions to the success of our operations, ecommerce platform, customer and manufacturer relationships, and internal culture have been immeasurable. Under his leadership, Cooney Brothers’ website even was awarded as AD’s PVF Ecommerce Member of the Year in 2018 and we were also recognized by AD for our Ecommerce Leadership in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
“I’ve been quite fortunate to spend the last 14 years of my career with Cooney Brothers,” Jake reflected. “It’s been a great group of people to work with and we’ve had opportunities to tackle some exciting challenges. I’m looking forward to retirement, but I will miss the people and the purpose.”
As he prepares for full retirement by the end of 2026, he looks forward to spending more time with his family, especially his grandchildren, as well as traveling, woodworking, and playing the guitar.
“It’s bittersweet to see Jake move on to his next chapter,” Cooney Brothers President Gerry Cooney said as someone who worked closely with Jake for many years and witnessed his extraordinary impact firsthand. “He has been a great friend, and an indispensable member of our leadership team. He is 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!”
Looking ahead, Gerry expressed nothing but confidence in the leadership team that’s gone through so much growth throughout this year:
“In the few months that Brian’s been with Cooney Brothers, our belief that he was ‘right for our culture’ has been confirmed. He is a character guy, with tremendous talents. He will be a great leader for the company,” Gerry added. “I’m excited to see the new group of managers taking shape here at Cooney Brothers. 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.”
As Cooney Brothers looks ahead, the company remains grounded in nearly 90 years of experience, expertise, and strong relationships—supported by a team of real people dedicated to serving our customers, partners, and the community with responsiveness and care.
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You can also keep an eye out for it in this week's PVF Newsletter from PHCPPros as well as in their May edition of the The Wholesaler magazines!