Cooney Brothers announced the upcoming retirement of Vice President and Head of Inside Sales William E. Cooney IV, whose nearly five decades of service have left a lasting impact on the company’s culture, customers, and community. As Bill prepares to pass the torch, inside sales leadership is already transitioning, with Matt Long stepping into the Inside Sales Manager role to uphold the values Bill embodied and that continue to shape Cooney Brothers’ success.

Since the start of his journey with Cooney Brothers in 1976, Bill Cooney has worked across nearly every department in the business, from checking inventory and loading trucks in his early days, to becoming a skilled fabricator and mentor, to ultimately overseeing the Inside Sales team. He leaves behind an inspiring legacy defined by leadership, expertise, collaboration, and a deep commitment to customer satisfaction.

“I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people over the years,” Bill explained with pride. “Some have moved on, some retired, some passed away, but many more are still here and holding up the fort. I’ll also miss all my customer and vendor friends, as we’ve worked together and helped each other over the years. It’s been an incredible journey.”

Known for his ability to expertly solve problems and connect with people, Bill has built long-lasting relationships with customers, manufacturers, and colleagues—relationships that became the cornerstone of Cooney Brothers’ reputation for trust and service. 

Cooney Brothers President Gerry Cooney described how his brother became such a tremendous asset and resource to Cooney Brothers through his vast product and application knowledge, as well as his innate ability to “work so closely with the maintenance supervisors, pipefitters, project managers, and mechanics who have to overcome challenges every day in order to get the job done.” 

Bill’s favorite memory at Cooney Brothers was Labor Day weekend of 1996 during the move from North Philadelphia to their current home in Plymouth Meeting—a moment that marked a milestone for the company and perfectly represented the collaborative spirit that Bill championed throughout his career. That weekend, employees from every department came together, working long hours side-by-side to haul inventory and equipment, ultimately making the transition possible as one team.

In addition to his leadership at Cooney Brothers, Bill is also a nine-time Ironman triathlete whose positive influence extended far beyond the office walls. He inspired the company’s “Team Cooney” cycling tradition, which has continued for more than 20 years and raised around $100,000 for the American Cancer Society.

His 49 years of service place him among the most tenured employees in Cooney Brothers’ 88-year history, and the impact of his kindness, leadership, and connection will be felt for years to come.

Cooney Brothers is a distributor of PVF 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 personalized service through its knowledgeable staff, and close manufacturer relationships.  Specializing 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.