William Farley

Advisory Board Member

William Farley is the sole shareholder of Liam Ventures, Inc., a private equity firm with investments in various industries including health, communications, and technology. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Fruit of the Loom, Inc. (FTL) from the time he acquired the company in 1986 through December 1999. During that time, he built FTL from a primarily domestic $500 million underwear company into a leading international manufacturer and marketer of basic family apparel with sales approximating $2.3 billion for the 1999 fiscal year. FTL was sold to Berkshire Hathaway Co. in 2002 for approximately $1 billion.

William Farley was born and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowdoin College in Maine, and a Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School. More recently, Mr. Farley received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from his alma mater Bowdoin College.

In addition to his business activities, Mr. Farley has served on various educational, corporate, civic and cultural boards, including: The Horatio Alger Association, The Big Shoulders Fund, The Rush Hospital Heart Institute, The Goodman Theatre of Chicago, and The Lyric Opera of Chicago. He also participates in Chicago Public School’s Principal For A Day Program.

Mr. Farley has received the Ireland-U.S. Council for Commerce and Industry’s Annual Outstanding Achievement Award for his efforts to improve economic, business and commercial links between Ireland and the United States. Other honors include: the Apparel Industry Board, Inc.’s Special Award, the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans, the Freedom Award from America’s Freedom Festival, the American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award, the National Women’s Political Caucus’ Good Guys Award and the White House’s Presidential Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Mr. Farley has also previously served as Chairman of the Illinois Ambassadors and the Executive Club of Chicago.

Mr. Farley resides in Chicago with his wife, Shelley. His interests include health and nutrition, education, politics, sports, travel, and philanthropy.