Cone Mills Announces Changes In Corporate Roles

GREENSBORO, N.C., May 25 /PRNewswire/ — Cone Mills Corporation (NYSE: COE) today announced that
its Board of Directors has elected Tom McKenna and Mike Whisenant Executive Vice Presidents of the
corporation. Tom McKenna directs market strategy for the Cone Textile Group (denim and khaki),
including merchandising, sales, marketing, and customer service.After joining Cone Mills in 1981,
McKenna worked in the San Francisco,Belgium, and Singapore sales offices before moving into
division management.He has since assumed increasingly responsible positions in sales and marketing,
most recently as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing.McKenna graduated from the University
of Maryland with a degree in marketing. Michael J. Whisenant is responsible for the company’s denim
manufacturing,product quality, product/process development, engineering, transportation, and
warehousing operations. After joining Cone Mills in 1967, Whisenant worked inplant management,
product development and product quality. He assumed progressively more responsible positions in
manufacturing operations, most recently as Senior Vice President, Operations. Whisenant graduated
from North Carolina State with a degree in textiles. Cone Mills has also announced that Samir M.
Gabriel has been elected Controller of the corporation, responsible for accounting, financial
systems,inventory control and business planning. Gabriel worked for Deloitte and Touche before
joining Cone Mills in 1988. He has held a variety of positions in Cone’s Finance function,
including Director of Accounting and Director of Cost Accounting. A CPA, Gabriel is a graduate of
Lenior Rhyne College with a degree in accounting. In other action, the Cone Board of Directors
endorsed the consolidation of the sales function into James Payne’s current responsibilities as
Senior Vice President of Cone Finishing. Payne directed the operational “turnaround” of Carlisle in
1999 and is now assuming responsibility for the Finishing division’s sales force. Since joining
Cone Mills in 1971, Payne has progressed through several management positions. He graduated from
theCollege of Textiles at N.C. State with a degree in textiles. Founded in 1891, Cone Mills
Corporation, headquartered in Greensboro, NC,is the world’s largest producer of denim fabrics and
the largest commissionprinter of home furnishings fabrics in North America. Manufacturingfacilities
are located in North Carolina and South Carolina, with a jointventure plant in Coahuila
Mexico.SOURCE Cone Mills Corporation Web Site: http://www.cone.com Copyright 2001 PR Newswire

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