Terence E. Adderley’s career at Kelly Services began in 1958 with responsibility for one office in Louisville, Kentucky. Less than a decade later, he was company president.
That rise was only the beginning. Over a career that stretched from 1958 to 2018, Kelly credited Adderley with strengthening financial controls, helping take the company public, contributing to staffing-industry organization and later leading a shift toward larger corporate accounts.
By the time he retired as chairman in September 2018, Adderley had spent more than six decades with the company founded by his adoptive father, William Russell Kelly.
A Quick Look at the Life of Terence E. Adderley
Biography Summary
Terence E. “Terry” Adderley was a Detroit-born business executive who spent more than six decades with Kelly Services. He joined the company in 1958, became president in 1967, later served as CEO, became chairman in 1998 and remained chairman until his retirement in September 2018.
Profile
Full Name: Terence E. “Terry” Adderley
Born: September 1, 1933
Died: October 9, 2018, at age 85
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Michigan
Best Known For: Long-serving leadership at Kelly Services
Company: Kelly Services
Major Roles: Office manager, vice president, executive vice president, president, chief executive officer and chairman
Notable Honor: American Staffing Association Leadership Hall of Fame Award, 2006
A Finance Background Before Kelly Services
Adderley earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Michigan. Before joining Kelly Services, he worked in the treasurer’s department of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey in New York City.
He joined Kelly Services in 1958 as manager of the Louisville office. His responsibilities expanded quickly: he became vice president in 1961, joined the board in 1962, became executive vice president in 1965 and was named president in 1967.
Those promotions placed Adderley in increasingly senior roles while the company’s rapid growth was putting pressure on its financial systems.
Financial Controls and the 1962 Public Offering
Kelly’s corporate history says its rapid expansion in the 1950s and early 1960s strained the company’s financial systems. The company credits Adderley with reorganizing the finance function and strengthening its controls.
Kelly also credits him with helping take the company public in 1962. In the company’s account, the public offering formed part of a broader effort to bring greater financial discipline to the growing business.
For Adderley, the work marked a clear expansion from local office management into responsibilities tied to the company’s financial structure and corporate direction.
A Role Beyond Kelly Services
Adderley’s work also extended into the temporary-staffing industry. Kelly’s corporate history says he worked with representatives of Manpower and other staffing firms when laws could treat temporary staffing companies like employment agencies.
Those efforts contributed to the creation of the Institute of Temporary Services in 1966, now known as the American Staffing Association. Kelly says Adderley served on the association’s board from 1970 through 2005.
In 2006, the American Staffing Association honored him with its Leadership Hall of Fame Award.
From President to Chief Executive
Adderley became president of Kelly Services in 1967 and later added the chief executive role. Kelly’s official records give two different starting years for his time as CEO: a 2006 company release and a 2007 SEC filing state 1987, while the company’s 2018 retirement announcement gives 1989.
The conflicting date does not change the broader chronology. Adderley was serving as chief executive by the late 1980s and remained in the role until 2006.
By the early 1990s, Kelly described a more competitive staffing market in which large companies were paying closer attention to temporary-labor spending and purchasing departments were taking a greater role in staffing decisions.
Shifting Toward Larger Corporate Accounts
Kelly’s retrospective account credits Adderley with leading a shift in sales and service toward larger corporate accounts during the early 1990s.
The company developed an approach intended to give large clients greater insight into staffing spending and the suppliers serving them. The initiative changed how Kelly approached major customers as corporate purchasing practices evolved.
The documented contribution belongs specifically to that strategy. Kelly’s wider growth and diversification were company developments and should not be attributed to Adderley alone.
Chairman and Controlling Shareholder
Adderley became chairman of Kelly Services in 1998. Later SEC materials identified him as a member of the founding family and the company’s controlling stockholder.
A 2006 filing stated that Adderley and certain trusts for which he served as trustee or co-trustee controlled approximately 92.5% of Kelly’s voting Class B common stock at that time. The percentage was specific to that filing, but it shows the ownership position he held alongside his executive and board roles.
His connection to the founding family was direct: William Russell Kelly, founder of Kelly Services, was Adderley’s adoptive father.
A Family Loss on September 11, 2001
Adderley’s son, Terence E. “Ted” Adderley Jr., was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.
Kelly’s 2001 annual report described Ted as a recent Vanderbilt University graduate who was working as a securities analyst at Fred Alger Management.
The 2006 Succession
On February 8, 2006, Adderley experienced a cardiac incident. Carl T. Camden was named acting CEO the following day and became CEO on February 27 under Kelly’s succession plan.
The change ended Adderley’s period as chief executive but not his role in company leadership. On May 10, Kelly’s board named him non-executive chairman while Camden continued as president and CEO.
Adderley remained in board leadership for more than another decade.
Final Years at Kelly Services
Kelly’s 2018 retirement announcement says Adderley became executive chairman in 2012 while continuing as chairman. He held both roles until May 2018, then remained chairman until his retirement became effective on September 17, 2018.
Donald R. Parfet succeeded him as chairman. Kelly said Adderley remained the company’s controlling shareholder at the time of his retirement.
Outside Kelly Services, Adderley served on civic, educational and business boards. Kelly listed organizations including Business Leaders for Michigan, the Detroit Economic Club, William Beaumont Hospital, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan among his affiliations.
His ties to the University of Michigan continued through service connected with the Ross School of Business and the University of Michigan Health System. Kelly also described him as a supporter of the University of Michigan and Vanderbilt University and as an avid antique-car collector.
Six Decades of Continuity and Change
Adderley’s record at Kelly Services combined unusual continuity with repeated changes in responsibility. He moved from local office management into senior finance work, corporate leadership and board leadership while also holding a controlling ownership position.
Kelly credited him with helping strengthen financial controls and take the company public, participating in the organization of the temporary-staffing industry and leading a later shift toward larger corporate accounts. After leaving the CEO role in 2006, he continued in board leadership until 2018.
Adderley retired as chairman in September 2018. He died on October 9, 2018, at age 85.
Timeline
This timeline highlights major milestones in Terence E. Adderley’s life and career.
September 1, 1933
Born in Detroit, Michigan.
Before 1958
Earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Michigan and worked in the treasurer’s department of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey.
1958
Joined Kelly Services as manager of the Louisville, Kentucky office.
1961
Became a Kelly Services vice president.
1962
Joined the board. Kelly also credits Adderley with helping take the company public that year.
1965–1967
Became executive vice president in 1965 and president in 1967.
1970–2005
Kelly says Adderley served on the board of the staffing-industry association that became the American Staffing Association.
Late 1980s
Became chief executive officer. Kelly’s official records give 1987 and 1989 as the starting year.
Early 1990s
Kelly credits him with leading a strategic shift toward larger corporate accounts.
1998
Became chairman of Kelly Services.
September 11, 2001
His son, Terence E. “Ted” Adderley Jr., was killed in the World Trade Center attacks.
2006
Received the American Staffing Association Leadership Hall of Fame Award. After a February cardiac incident, Carl T. Camden became CEO and Adderley later returned as non-executive chairman.
2012
Kelly says Adderley became executive chairman while continuing as chairman.
September 17, 2018
His retirement as chairman became effective.
October 9, 2018
Died at age 85.
FAQs
Question: When did Terence E. Adderley become CEO of Kelly Services?
Answer: Kelly’s official records give two starting years. A 2006 company release and a 2007 SEC filing state that Adderley became CEO in 1987, while Kelly’s 2018 retirement announcement says 1989. His tenure as CEO ended in 2006.
Question: Was Terence E. Adderley related to Kelly Services founder William Russell Kelly?
Answer: Yes. William Russell Kelly was Terence E. Adderley’s adoptive father. Kelly corporate records identify Adderley as the founder’s son.
Question: What role did Terence E. Adderley play in Kelly Services going public?
Answer: Kelly’s corporate history credits Adderley with reorganizing financial controls and helping take the company public in 1962. The detailed account of his role comes from Kelly’s retrospective corporate history.
Question: Why did Terence E. Adderley stop serving as CEO in 2006?
Answer: Adderley experienced a cardiac incident on February 8, 2006. Under Kelly’s succession plan, Carl T. Camden became acting CEO the next day and CEO later that month. Adderley subsequently returned as non-executive chairman.
Further Reading
Sources
- Detroit News / Detroit Free Press via Legacy: Terence E. Adderley death notice
- Kelly Services: 2018 retirement announcement and career retrospective, 2001 annual report memorial for Terence E. “Ted” Adderley Jr., SEC proxy materials on founding-family status and controlling ownership
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission / Kelly Services: May 2006 leadership-transition release, 2007 Form 10-K, 2006 Form 10-K voting-control disclosure