Ernest D. Haynes III
President of Global Consumer Packaging / Sonoco Products Company
Ernest D. Haynes III, recently named President of Global Consumer Packaging at Sonoco, discusses the company’s recent transformation and its renewed focus on innovation with CEO North America Magazine.
Global Packaging Supplier Sonoco began with humble roots in 1899, starting out with a focus on paper products in Hartsville, SC. Today, with 263 operations across 37 countries and a dedicated team of over 22,000 employees, Sonoco is the global leader in high-quality, steel and paper packaging.
The company proudly partners with some of the world’s best-known brands of both consumer and industrial products. Their diverse product range serves key markets like Food & Beverage, Pet Care, Household Products, Beauty & Personal Care, Construction, Industrial Paper, and Automotive.
Sonoco’s comprehensive packaging solutions, including rigid paper cans, metal cans, industrial paper, and specialty packaging, play a crucial role in shaping brand identities, crafting memorable customer experiences, and ensuring top-quality products worldwide. All of this is rooted in the motto: Better Packaging. Better Life.
People-First Packaging
Over nearly three decades with Sonoco, Ernest D. Haynes III has held a variety of leadership roles, developing deep expertise across both the consumer and industrial segments of the business.
He has served as President of Metal Packaging North America, the world’s leading producer of steel food and aerosol cans, closures, and components, and has also held positions as Division Vice President and General Manager of Rigid Paper Containers in North America.
“We have a resilient supply chain. If you look at our global investments, they cover metal food cans, aerosol, paper, and our industrial space. We have international supply chains and have invested in advanced technologies. Sonoco has also invested heavily in our talent core and in building more sustainable businesses that serve the market.”
Haynes tells CEO North America, that when he became President of Consumer Packaging, Americas in 2025, overseeing both rigid paper containers and metal packaging operations in North and South America, “I actually did not think the biggest opportunity was bringing two legacy businesses together – paper and metal. It was really uniting decades of expertise in various packaging materials and substrates to solve customer problems and find new ways to grow the business with some terrific CPGs we serve.”
As he steps into his new role leading Sonoco’s global consumer packaging business, Haynes is excited about the company’s ability to help customers address evolving market needs.
“I believe there are very few companies that have the full range of capabilities that Sonoco has developed over more than a century. Whether it’s paper cans, metal food cans, or aerosol packaging solutions, we are number one in our served markets. And I believe these technologies enable us to support a diverse customer base with solutions tailored to their unique challenges and opportunities.”
“That gives us a unique perspective on the marketplace because we can see consumer trends developing across multiple markets simultaneously,” he admits.
“Our customers really don’t think of us in terms of substrates. They think about brands; they think about products; they think about their sustainability goals; they think about how we can be a low-cost producer for them and how we can meet ever-changing consumer needs.”
“Our relationship with Sonoco is built on a shared commitment to innovation, quality, and long-term value creation. By working together, we have commercialized sustainable solutions for Sonoco’s extensive portfolio of metal packaging offerings. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership for many years ahead.”
Burt Marchman
President Global Packaging, The Sherwin-Williams Company
Sonoco’s Transformation Strategy
Over several years, Sonoco has become a more focused, streamlined, and resilient company, with Haynes and his team actively involved in various stages of growth and acquisitions.
Early in the transformation, Sonoco increased investments in technology and innovation within its core operations to drive growth and efficiency. It also restructured its portfolio by exiting non-core businesses and redirected that capital to strengthen its market-leading metal and fiber consumer and industrial packaging divisions.
“I think our capital allocation strategy has been critically important and a responsible use of capital,” Haynes says. “I believe that gives confidence to some of the world’s leading consumer brands that we’re focused on long-term value and committed to staying as a leader in the industry. This is demonstrated through the investments we’ve made, not just through acquisitions, but also in how we utilize our capital deployment inside the business.”
By the end of its transformation, Sonoco had reduced the number of its highly diversified businesses from 20 to two core segments and simplified its operating systems, focusing resources where they could most effectively drive profitable growth. After several high-profile acquisitions, such as Ball Metalpack and Eviosys, the company’s foundation was laid, and the transformation of its portfolio was complete.
Today, Sonoco’s operating and reporting structure consists of two segments: Consumer Packaging, which Haynes oversees and makes up about two-thirds of consolidated sales, and Industrial Paper Packaging, which accounts for the remaining roughly one-third.
Haynes believes this transformation creates real opportunities for Sonoco to address market needs both internally and externally. “I think we can leverage our talent across those mediums, serve our customers in an integrated way and continue to drive value for our shareholders.”
Delivering Record Growth
Since its transformation began in 2020, Sonoco has increased revenue by approximately 50%, improved adjusted EBITDA by 67%, and expanded adjusted EBITDA margin by around 200 basis points.
In 2025, Sonoco rejoined the FORTUNE 500 list of the largest U.S. companies by revenue, ranking at #489 with sales of $7.8 billion.
As of July 2026, Sonoco’s businesses continue to demonstrate strong cash-generation capabilities, with Q2 setting a record for second-quarter operating cash flow at $301 million and free cash flow at $237 million. The company reported net sales of $1.9 billion, with the Industrial Paper Packaging segment exceeding expectations as URB North America sales volume increased by 6%.
“If you think about global manufacturing, I believe we’ve entered one of the most dynamic and exciting periods in decades.”
In the coming years, the company has stated it will prioritize sustainable growth, margin enhancement, and efficient use of capital. In 2026, excluding results from divested businesses, Sonoco targets a 20% rise in adjusted earnings.
A Future in Focus
Building on these achievements, Sonoco is positioning itself for ongoing leadership in the packaging industry with a clear focus on innovation and customer partnership. Regarding Sonoco’s future, “Our growth starts with helping our customers grow,” Haynes tells CEO North America. “Our focus over the next three to four years begins with simplifying how we engage our customers by providing integrated packaging solutions across a variety of materials markets.”
For Haynes and his team, this growth starts with how they invest in manufacturing technologies that improve efficiency, quality and service, sustainability, as well as incorporating AI within some of those solution sets.
On expanding innovation capabilities, the President of Global Consumer Packaging says, “We want to be an innovator in this space. We want to bring new packaging solutions and opportunities to our customers to help them stand out on the shelf.”
Haynes notes that investment in equipment is closely tied to investment in people. “From a manufacturing standpoint, we’ve always been in the people business. Technologies will continue to evolve, but developing our skilled leaders, our engineers, our operators, and our commercial excellence teams remains, first and foremost, in our minds and at the top of mine. I believe that investment pays long-term dividends.”
Haynes describes his team’s ongoing integration efforts as ‘more of a marathon than a sprint”. Over the next 12 to 18 months, he says his team is keenly focused on operations, engineering, sales, and R&D. “They all bring different unique perspectives that ultimately lead to better solutions, but I think one of the advantages of the structure we’re now in is bringing those minds together from an operational standpoint.”
“Sonoco combines global packaging leadership with a clear purpose: creating solutions that elevate customer experiences, protect product quality, and improve everyday life. American Packaging Corporation is pleased to be a trusted partner. We commend Ernest Haynes and his team for advancing consumer packaging through focused growth, collaboration, and continuous innovation.”
Ray Graham
CEO & President, American Packaging Corporation
“One of my goals has been to create an environment where people’s perspectives come together earlier, allowing us to collaborate on solutions and be a nimble partner to our customers, where everyone understands the unique challenges our customers face and where we can improve,” he explains.
What Sets Sonoco Apart?
“It’s our people and our customers,” Haynes tells CEO North America, “That is one of the unique value propositions that sets us apart. We have strategic partnerships with customers, and we’re really deeply invested in our people in every aspect of
the business.”
For Haynes, those relationships are key. “The closer the collaboration is with our customers the better we are at understanding their demand cycles. It creates opportunities for continuous improvement.
Those relationships and partnerships go beyond just simply packaging. They become intrinsic in what we do. And, relative to our people, that’s a little bit of the secret to the company.”
“Our relationships date back many years, even through the previous acquisitions Sonoco has made. We maintain strong, long-term relationships with our key suppliers through ongoing supply agreements. We also track quality and on-time delivery metrics. Our focus is on nurturing these longstanding partnerships built over many years.”
Paul Beard / Global Vice President, Procurement / Sonoco Products Company
Haynes notes, “We’ve evolved into a place where we have continuity of supply. I know that’s why a number of customers choose us, whether it’s our asset base or our deep reach from a procurement standpoint, we’re number one or two in our service markets. That creates tremendous value in our ability to react to situations and not let our customers down.”
Another defining aspect of Sonoco’s next steps is its focus on sustainability, which lies at the core of Sonoco’s Better Packaging. Better Life. promise. The company is committed to making a lasting impact by limiting emissions, investing in renewable energy, reducing water usage, and using lifecycle assessments to develop better practices.
“We are a company that believes doing the right things, even when no one is watching, defines our character. And that’s certainly been a hallmark of my almost 30-year career. It’s something I believe in. And I think our customers see that day in day out.”
Sonoco’s dedication to making a positive impact has led to the company being consistently recognized as a sustainability leader. In 2025, Sonoco was named one of America’s Most Trustworthy and Responsible Companies by Newsweek, and one of America’s Climate Leaders by USA TODAY. The company has also earned a bronze sustainability rating from Ecovadis, showcasing its ongoing progress in responsible operations.
A Different Kind of Team
Sonoco’s culture of excellence is more than a guiding principle. By fostering close collaboration among its engineering, R&D, and commercial teams, Sonoco consistently provides tailored packaging solutions for some of the world’s most recognized brands.
“Our longstanding partnership with Sonoco has been an important part of ProAmpac’s journey, built on mutual trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to serving our customers. We are grateful for the strong relationship we’ve developed over the years which continues to push the boundaries of packaging design, sustainability, and material science.”
Sachin Desai
President and COO, ProAmpac
“Our partnership with Sonoco demonstrates what’s possible when innovation and collaboration come together. By combining our expertise, we are delivering packaging solutions that enhance performance, solve complex customer challenges, and create lasting value across the value chain.”
Courtney Jungjohann Deemer
General Manager, Americas Packaging Coatings, PPG
“We’ve invested a lot of effort into building a sales and operations process that also includes the supply chain. And when everything aligns, it all comes together in business reviews with our strategic suppliers.”
Steve Charles / Vice President, Global Rigid Paper Container Materials Category Management / Sonoco Products Company
This smooth teamwork speeds up innovation and builds trust with customers, showing that partnership is at the heart of Sonoco’s sustained success.
“I think we’ve inherited a strong culture that Sonoco has cultivated over the past 126 plus years that encourages collaboration, encourages us to challenge assumptions in a respectful way, but always keeps us focused on delivering value to the customer,” Haynes notes.
Sonoco’s commitment to people and excellence has not only generated value but also earned industry recognition. The company was named to Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list in 2026, while the DEKRA ICON Award highlighted its commitment to workplace safety.
A Powerful Business Message
Sonoco’s journey exemplifies the power of focused transformation, sustainable growth, and a people-first mindset, setting a standard for packaging companies worldwide.
Haynes highlights that Sonoco’s commercial excellence makes it stand out in the industry. “We are a strategic partner in the marketplace. It has been proven over decades that we’re responsible custodians of our customers’ products. Sonoco has created tremendous advantages as a global packaging leader.”
Also important is creating long-term, loyal customer partnerships. “The things we do around enhancing our margin profile and our efforts to be a best-in-class supplier are key. When you consider some of the brands we serve—like Mars, Red Gold, Abbott, and Reckitt Benckiser—these are well-known brands that rely on Sonoco’s expertise to deliver innovative packaging solutions at scale. We’re a trusted partner to them, and there’s a reason for that: we stand behind the products we make.”
He concludes, “We help solve issues not only of today but also for tomorrow. And I think our customers consider the integrity we work with to be the best in class.”
