Hugh Cooney was educated at St. Finian's College, Mullingar, and at UCD. He is a Chartered Accountant.

Hugh has worked with a number of the major accountancy houses and consultants, including Stokes Kennedy Crowley, NCB Corporate Finance, and Arthur Anderson.  Since 2002 he has been with BDO Simpson Xavier where he is Partner, Corporate Finance.

He has 22 years experience in corporate restructuring and corporate recovery, and in more recent years has specialised in corporate finance with particular expertise in acquisition (local and cross-border), equity and debt fundraising, corporate re-structuring and strategic advice.

His current Directorships include Aon MacDonagh Boland Group, NCB Ventures Ltd and  Kandel Ltd, and he is Chairman of Siteserv Plc and the Trustees of Arnotts Pension Fund.