Milliken's Allen To Retire, Company Again Named To Fortune 100 Best Companies List
Milliken & Company President and CEO Dr. G. Ashley Allen, will retire May 1, 2008, capping a
38-year career with the Spartanburg-based textile manufacturer. Allen was named president and COO
of the company in 2002 and was promoted to CEO in 2005 to succeed Roger Milliken, who continues to
serve as chairman of the Board of Directors.
Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Washington & Lee University and a
doctorate in organic chemistry from Cornell University. His career with Milliken began in 1969 with
his appointment as a research chemist at Milliken Research Corp. and led him into various
leadership positions including the presidency of the Chemical & Packaging Division, Chemical
& Industrial Specialties Division and Milliken Research Corp. prior to his more recent
positions.
Dr. Joseph M. Salley, promoted to COO in 2006, will succeed Allen as president and CEO, effective
May 1. Salley earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Citadel, and a masters degree and
doctorate in chemical engineering from Stanford University. He joined Milliken in 1994 as a
research & development engineer for Milliken Chemical and served in various positions including
the presidency of the Industrial Specialties Division, Milliken Research Corp. and the Performance
Products Division prior to his current position.
“Joe Salley inherits the big shoes of Ashley Allen, who has provided tremendous leadership
to this private manufacturing company,” said Milliken. “In elevating Joe to the CEO leadership
role, we are happy to again be promoting from within, which is testimony to Milliken’s commitment
to recruit, educate, challenge and promote the best possible talent. Joe has done an excellent job
in his present capacity and is well prepared for his new responsibilities.”
Allen (left) and Salley
As another testimony to Milliken’s commitment to excellence, the company has once again been named as one of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” marking the fourth time in five years that the company has made the list. Milliken ranked 92nd on the 2008 list, and 31st on the Best Medium-Sized Company list, and is the only South Carolina company to be included.
“Making Fortune’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the fourth time is an exceptional way to cap a great year,” said Salley, who announced the news during Milliken’s Winter Management Conference. “If you take into account the hundreds of thousands of companies that exist in the US, it is great recognition for our associates to be ranked among the top 100 of the Fortune survey.”
January 29, 2008