Sonoco Names Ernest D. Haynes III as Next CEO

Sonoco Products Company announced that President and CEO R. Howard Coker will retire on December 31, 2026, after more than 40 years with the organization. The Board of Directors elected Ernest D. Haynes III, the current President of Global Consumer Packaging, to succeed Coker as President, CEO, and a company director.

Coker led the company through a transformation into a focused consumer and industrial packaging business. He will remain in his current role until the end of the year to support the leadership transition. Coker stated that it has been the honor of his career to serve as CEO and that now is the right time to hand leadership to the next generation.

Haynes joined the company in 1997 and previously led the metal and rigid paper packaging divisions. In his new role, he intends to focus on sustainable growth, profitability improvement, and efficient capital allocation to create value for shareholders and customers. Haynes said he is honored and appreciative to the Board of Directors for trusting him to lead the organization.