Sonoco Announces New Executive Leadership for its Global Businesses

HARTSVILLE, S.C., Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonoco (NYSE: SON) announced today that John M. Colyer Jr., has been named senior vice president, Global Industrial Products and Protective Solutions, and Rob C. Tiede has been named senior vice president, Global Consumer Packaging and Services, according to M. Jack Sanders, president and chief operating officer, and the Company's chief executive officer-elect. These appointments are effective Jan. 1, 2013.

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Colyer, 51, formerly vice president, Global Industrial Converting, will have responsibility for the Company's Global Paper, Tubes and Cores, Reels, Protective Solutions and related support businesses. Tiede, 54, formerly vice president, Global Flexibles and Packaging Services, will have responsibility for the Company's Corporate Customer program as well as its Global Rigid Paper, Closures, Rigid Plastics, Flexibles, and Display and Packaging businesses. 

"John and Rob are veteran leaders of our global packaging businesses and have demonstrated an ability to build strong businesses and effective leadership teams," said Sanders. "John has been instrumental in optimizing our global industrial-related businesses and in pursing the acquisition of Tegrant Holding Corporation, which led to the formation of our growing Protective Solutions business. Rob has successfully led efforts to rebuild our Flexible Packaging and Display and Packaging businesses, while evolving our marketing efforts and serving as executive sponsor for our IT systems integration."

Colyer has 29 years of experience with Sonoco and held numerous leadership and manufacturing positions in businesses serving industrial and consumer markets.  He is a graduate of Southern Oregon State University with a B.S. degree in business administration.

Tiede joined Sonoco in 2004 as head of the Company's Display and Packaging business following the acquisition of CorrFlex Graphics' point-of-purchase display and supply chain management business. He was named division vice president and general manager of Sonoco's Flexible Packaging division in 2007 and became vice president, Global Flexibles and Packaging Services in 2009. Prior to joining Sonoco, Tiede was executive vice president of Graphic Packaging International, Inc., president of Sterling International and president of Bostic Packaging/CorrFlex.  Tiede received a business administration diploma from Red River Community College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and is a Canadian Charted Accountant.

Industrial and Consumer Executive Appointments

Rodger D. Fuller, 51, previously vice president, Global Rigid Plastic and Corporate Customers, has been named group vice president, Paper/Tubes and Cores, North America, reporting to Colyer. In this new position,  which is effective Jan. 1, 2013, Fuller will be responsible for improving the vertical integration of the Company's North American Paper, Tubes and Cores, Recycling and internal supply businesses.

Fuller joined Sonoco in 1985 and has held a number of senior leadership positions primarily in the Company's Consumer Packaging segment, including running the Company's global composite can, Rigid Plastics and North America and European consumer products operations. Fuller graduated from Berry College with a B.S. degree in business administration and earned an MBA from Emory University. 

With Fuller's appointment, R. Howard Coker, 50, previously vice president, Global Rigid Paper and Closures, has been given the additional responsibilities as group vice president, Global Rigid Paper and Plastics, reporting to Tiede. The appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2013. During his career at Sonoco, Coker has held numerous leadership positions, including vice president, Rigid Paper and Closures, North America; division vice president and general manager, Sonoco Phoenix; director of sales and marketing, Rigid Paper and Plastics; and general manager, Asia/Pacific, Rigid Paper and Plastics. He is a graduate of Wofford College with a B.A. in business administration and holds an MBA in business administration from Wake Forest University.

Leach Retiring from Sonoco; Arthur to Head Protective Solutions Segment

Ronald G. Leach Jr., vice president, Protective Solutions, has decided to retire from Sonoco, effective March 31, 2013. Replacing Leach will be Vicki B. Arthur, vice president, Protective Solutions, reporting to Colyer. The appointment is effective April 1, 2013.

"I want to personally thank Ron for working with Sonoco to acquire Tegrant and helping our efforts to rapidly integrate and further grow our combined Protective Solutions businesses," said Colyer. "Vicki is an excellent choice to lead this business after directing our joint integration team and then quickly transitioning into a leadership position heading our custom-engineered consumer and industrial expanded foam and temperature-assurance packaging businesses."

Arthur, 54, was previously vice president, Global Corporate Customers, and division vice president and general manager of Sonoco's Kraft Corporate Customer team, where she had global packaging relationship responsibility for the former Kraft Foods. She joined Sonoco in 1984 and held various finance positions, including as staff vice president and treasurer. Arthur graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. degree in accounting and holds an MBA in business from Duke University. She is a Certified Public Accountant.

Leach, 55, joined Sonoco after serving as president and CEO of Tegrant. He was also president and CEO of Alloyd Company and served as a general manager of TriEnd Corporation and has held several other leadership roles in the packaging industry.  Leach holds a B.S. degree in packaging engineering from Michigan State University.  

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $4.5 billion, the Company has more than 19,600 employees working in over 340 operations in 34 countries, serving many of the world's best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2012/2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

SOURCE Sonoco