Len Hadley

Who is Len Hadley?

Len Hadley retired as the CEO of the Maytag Corporation in Newton, Iowa in 1999. He was a member of the firm's Board of Directors from 1985 to 1999. He returned to Maytag as president and CEO from November 2000 to June 2001.

In 1994, he was involved in the "Hoover free flights promotion" marketing blunder. Three British citizens from the Hoover Holiday Pressure Group attend the Maytag Annual General Meeting in Newton, Iowa. As the leading members of the free flight protest they bought shares in the Maytag Corporation allowing them to attend the meeting as shareholders. The three British citizens made headlines in the Des Moines Register and featured on ABC TV.

Born in Earlham, Iowa, Hadley received his BSC degree in accounting from the University of Iowa in 1958, after which he studied law for a year. Prior to enrolling at Iowa, Hadley attended Drake University and served in the Army Signal Corps.

Hadley joined Maytag as a cost accountant in 1959 and held a number of financial positions before becoming assistant controller in 1975. He was named vice president of corporate planning in 1979 and president of the Maytag Company in 1986.