Sonoco (NYSE:SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, today announced that Ron O´Neal has been promoted to division vice president, Paper Converting Europe, according to Eddie Smith, vice president, Industrial Products (IPD)/Paper and Consumer Europe.
O´Neal, 56, will have operational responsibility for Sonoco´s 36 Industrial Products and Consumer packaging plants in 17 European countries as part of the creation of a new global manufacturing matrix organization for Sonoco´s Industrial Sector. Prior to this appointment, O´Neal had been operations director for IPD Europe since 2006. O´Neal, who joined Sonoco in 1991 as general manager for Sonoco reels in the United Kingdom, also led successful manufacturing operations in Sonoco´s IPD North America, Protective Packaging and Wire and Cable Reels divisions. He is a graduate of Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, with a degree in Business Administration.
"We´re pleased to have Ron moving into this important new leadership role," said Smith. "He was a key contributor to IPD Europe´s success in 2007, and continues to drive safety and productivity. In 2007, he led efforts which resulted in employee injuries being reduced by more than half and helped us achieve record productivity improvements."
About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $4.0 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with approximately 334 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in some 85 nations. For more information on the Company, visit our Web site at http://www.sonoco.com/.