Page 38 - Plastics News August 2026
P. 38
COMPANY NEWS
Sonoco Reshapes Consumer Packaging Leadership With Ernest Haynes
in senior positions in both its consumer and in-
dustrial operations. Before this change, he led
Sonoco’s consumer unit in the Americas and
served as president of metal packaging North
America after the Ball Metalpack acquisition in
2022. Haynes said: “I’m excited by the opportu-
nity to further grow our strong metal and paper
can businesses around the world.
“This new structure simplifies and improves the
efficiency of our operating model enabling our
onoco Products Company has brought its teams to better collaborate, innovate and grow.
global consumer packaging activities un-
Sder one management set-up, with Ernest I am passionate about fostering a culture of in-
novation and ensuring world-class manufactur-
Haynes taking charge as global consumer pack-
aging President. In the role, Haynes will oversee ing, quality and technical service for our brands
worldwide.”
the company’s biggest business area, which re-
cords about $5.2bn in annual revenue. The divi- The industrial paper packaging segment will
sion includes 98 sites across 25 countries and remain under the leadership of James Harrell,
employs 11,250 people. Haynes will report to So- president. Sonoco EMEA/APAC president Sean
noco president and CEO HowardCoker. Cairns is departing the business after 17 years
at the company and 30 years in the packaging
Coker said: “I’m pleased to have an experienced sector. In the previous year, Sonoco combined
leader like Ernest taking over this important role. its metal packaging and rigid paper contain-
He has nearly 30 years of operating and com- ers businesses within one consumer packaging
mercial leadership at Sonoco and will bring the structure based on geography. That arrange-
best of our Americas and EMEA/APAC business- ment comprises two divisions: consumer pack-
es together to leverage our technology, supply aging EMEA/APAC and consumer packaging
chain and research and development to meet Americas.
the changing needs of our global customers.”
Haynes joined Sonoco in 1997 and has worked
42 PLASTICS NEWS August 2026
