Sonoco has confirmed that Ernest D. Haynes III will succeed R. Howard Coker as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2027, following Coker’s retirement on 31 December 2026.
Coker will retire after more than 40 years with the company, having overseen a period of restructuring that has focused Sonoco’s operations on its Consumer and Industrial Packaging businesses.
Haynes, currently President, Global Consumer Packaging, has spent nearly 30 years with Sonoco. During this time, he has held senior operational and commercial roles across its metal packaging, rigid paper packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging businesses, including responsibility for integrating major acquisitions.
“On behalf of the entire Board, we are deeply grateful to Howard for his leadership and distinguished service to the Company,” said John R. Haley, Chairman of the Board, Sonoco. “As CEO, Howard has led Sonoco through a defining period of transformation.”
“It has been the honor of my career to serve as CEO of Sonoco, a company I have known all my life,” said R. Howard Coker. “Now is the right time to hand leadership to the next generation as part of our orderly succession planning process.”
“I am honored and appreciative to our Board of Directors for trusting me to lead Sonoco, and I am energized by the opportunity to guide this tremendous organization going forward,” said Ernest D. Haynes III. “Through Howard’s leadership, we are inheriting a strong foundation that positions us well for the future.”
Haynes has also been appointed to Sonoco’s Board of Directors. Coker will remain in his current role until the end of December to support the leadership transition.
