John Adams Joins EcomTextile.com as CEO

Business Wire, May 15, 2000

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

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FULLERTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2000

John C. Adams, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Russell Corp., has been appointed CEO of EcomTextile.com.

EcomTextile.com is in the process of establishing an Internet exchange that will initially serve as an electronic purchasing hub for the global textile and apparel industry. Adams will be responsible for overseeing the company's Internet launch around mid-year and for helping it attain the leadership position as a textile portal.

"I had not planned to go back to work," Adams said. "But when I read EcomTextile.com's business plan and talked with the people there, I decided this opportunity was too exciting to pass up.

"I'm aware that several other companies have announced plans for Internet-based textile exchanges, but EcomTextile.com's is the most realistic I've seen. It's carefully thought out, and I truly believe that it avoids many of the potholes that have plagued other companies.

"I believe that the Internet has the potential to transform the 400-year-old textile industry in America, and I want to be in the forefront of that change," he explained.

Adams joined Russell Corp. in 1976 as the general manager of merchandising for the Knit Apparel Division. Over the next several years he rose steadily to become president of the Knit Apparel Division in 1981, president and COO of Russell in 1991, CEO in 1992 and chairman of the board in 1993, where he served until his recent retirement.

Previously, he spent five years at Oneita Knitting Mills, eventually becoming corporate vice president of sales in 1975. Here he became thoroughly versed in sales, merchandising, production control, costing and sales forecasting. He also worked closely with R&D, quality control and manufacturing management.

He began his career at Eastman Chemical Products and Tennessee Eastman Co., both divisions of Eastman Kodak based in Kingsport, Tenn., as a textile engineer. Over the next dozen years he gained experience in every facet of the business, from yarn and fabric manufacturing to spinning, knitting and weaving to supervising knitwear merchandising.

In 1971 he was appointed national accounts manager in New York where he handled the development, merchandising and sales to all divisions of Burlington Industries and J.P. Stevens.

A native of Ware Shoals, S.C., Adams graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in textile engineering.

As a tireless advocate and spokesman for the textile industry, Adams became very active in textile and apparel industry-related associations.

He served in numerous leadership positions including president of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI), chairman of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the Executive Committee of the American Textile Partnership (AMTEX) and director of the National Cotton Council.

His leadership abilities made him a sought-after member of several business and organization boards, among them the Business Council of Alabama, Bryant Jordan Scholar Athletic Program, Aliant National Corp., The Southern Co., Russell Hospital and the Georgia Tech Advisory Board.

Adams has also donated his time and abilities to local and charitable causes like the State Literacy Workforce Development Council and the Helen Keller Eye Foundation.

EcomTextile.com is an entirely new business-to-business site that brings buyers and sellers together with a user-friendly Web-based sourcing tool. It also offers extensive industry experience combined with technology expertise.

The company is located at 1501 E. Orangethorpe Ave., Suite 110, Fullerton, Calif. 92831 and can be contacted by phone at 888/765-5060, by fax at 714/765-3103 or via the Internet at www.ecomtextile.com.

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