Sonoco Products Company has recently made a strategic move to consolidate its metal packaging and rigid paper containers units into a unified consumer packaging framework, which will be organized geographically. This new structure will be composed of two divisions: Consumer Packaging EMEA/APAC and Consumer Packaging Americas.
Seán Cairns has been appointed as the president of Consumer Packaging for EMEA/APAC (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa/Asia-Pacific), bringing with him a wealth of experience. Cairns has been with Sonoco since 2008 and previously held the position of president for global rigid paper containers, overseeing operations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. With over three decades in the packaging sector, including 13 years with Crown’s Metal Packaging EMEA division, Cairns is well-equipped to lead this new division.
Ernest Haynes will be serving as the president of Consumer Packaging Americas. Haynes, who has been with Sonoco since 1997, previously led Sonoco Metal Packaging North America, a unit established after Sonoco’s acquisition of Ball Metalpack in 2022. Throughout his tenure at Sonoco, Haynes has held various leadership roles in both consumer and industrial segments.
Both Cairns and Haynes will report directly to Sonoco’s president and CEO, Howard Coker. Rodger Fuller will continue as the chief operating officer and step back from his interim role as CEO of Metal Packaging EMEA to assist with the leadership transition during the integration process.
The transition of Sonoco’s consumer packaging segment is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. This restructuring will not impact the company’s industrial paper packaging business, led by James Harrell. Coker expressed his confidence in the new structure, stating that it will create a simpler and more efficient operating model, enabling teams to offer a variety of substrates to customers.
Sonoco, established in 1899, employs 22,500 individuals and operates 270 facilities across 40 countries. The company recently sold its ThermoSafe business unit to Arsenal Capital Partners for $725m. This strategic move to consolidate consumer packaging operations geographically is aimed at fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth opportunities within the company.
In conclusion, Sonoco’s new unified consumer packaging framework marks a significant step towards streamlining operations and driving growth in the packaging sector. With experienced leaders at the helm of its divisions, Sonoco is poised for continued success in the industry.
