A FORMER junior car salesman has become a boss in a million after completing one of the most remarkable East Lancashire business successes stories of the decade.

Bill Gleave, who founded pillow manufacturing firm Northern Textiles in Burnley, has been made chief executive of its parent company French plc, making him one of the youngest bosses of a stock market listed company.

He became a director of the firm when it bought out Northern Textiles in a £2 million cash-and-shares deal two years ago.

Last year Bill, 32, was awarded the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Business Person of the Year title for his achievements.

His latest appointment makes him one of only a handful of major-company chief executives aged under 40. After leaving school at 16 in his native Sale, Cheshire, Bill had spells as a YTS car salesman at an Austin Rover dealership and as a sport shop assistant in the town.

He later came to East Lancashire to work as a salesman for the former Coloroll group in Nelson.

After spells working in other parts of the country he returned to East Lancashire in his mid-twenties to launch Northern Textiles with a partner.

The firm began in a rented unit off Todmorden Road, Burnley, and within three years it hit the £3 million turnover mark.

Last year it sold around £9 million of pillows and quilts and other products a year, employing around 225 people.

Wythenshawe-based French plc manufactures household textiles, curtain products and bedding.

Bill, who is currently away on holiday, replaces previous chief executive Michael Snapes with immediate effect.

He takes over at the helm of French plc after a turbulent period following a failed expansion into overseas markets.

"I am sure the group will continue to develop under Bill Gleave's leadership," said Mr Snapes.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.