Sonoco Appoints Tiede COO, Arthur, Coker, and Fuller SVP of Global Businesses

Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, this week announced several new senior leadership changes, which will become effective Jan. 3, 2017, according to M. Jack Sanders, president and CEO. 

Robert C. Tiede has been appointed EVP and COO and will have global leadership, sales, and operating responsibility for all of the company's diversified consumer, industrial, and protective packaging businesses, reporting to Sanders. Since joining Sonoco in 2004, Tiede has led all of the company’s global consumer-related businesses, including Sonoco Rigid Paper Containers, Flexible Packaging, Plastics, and Display and Packaging. During his tenure, Sonoco's consumer-related businesses have increased sales by approximately 90% and operating profits by 120%, as the company's consumer growth strategy developed broader global packaging and services capabilities. 

 

"Rob has been a key leader of our efforts to re-envision Sonoco to become a more innovative, consumer solutions-focused business," said Sanders. "His ability to turn around underperforming businesses, drive innovation to spur organic growth, and help build our capabilities through targeted acquisitions has been an important element in executing our grow and optimize strategy."

Tiede joined Sonoco as president of Sonoco CorrFlex following the 2004 acquisition of CorrFlex Graphics' point of purchase merchandising display and packaging business. In 2007, he became division VP and GM of the Sonoco Flexible Packaging Division and later added responsibility for all of the Sonoco Consumer Packaging businesses. He became SVP in 2013 and in 2015 added responsibility for the Sonoco Protective Solutions and Reels businesses. 

Prior to joining Sonoco, Tiede worked in private equity as president of Bostic Packaging/CorrFlex from 2000 to 2004 and president of Sterling International from 1998 to 2000. He also served as EVP of operations for Graphic Packaging International Inc., heading its flexible packaging division from 1994 to 1998.

A Chartered Accountant through the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, Tiede began his professional career with KPMG. Tiede is active in industry and community organizations and is the chairman of the Flexible Packaging Association and Hartsville United Way. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Tiede became a U.S. citizen in 2013 and he and his wife, Val, maintain a home in Hartsville and have three grown children.

Sanders also announced the promotions of Vicki B. Arthur to SVP, Sonoco Plastic Packaging and Protective Solutions; R. Howard Coker to SVP, Sonoco Rigid Paper Containers and Paper/Engineered Carriers International; and Rodger D. Fuller to SVP, Sonoco Paper/Engineered Carriers U.S./Canada and Display and Packaging. Each will report to Tiede.

In this new position, Arthur will have responsibility for Sonoco's plastics businesses, including flexible packaging and thermoformed, injection molded, and extruded plastics, and Protective Solutions, which includes the company's consumer durable paper-based packaging, molded foam components, and temperature-assured packaging operations. Combined, these businesses have 52 operating facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia with combined sales of approximately $1.5 billion and more than 4,000 associates.

Arthur joined Sonoco in 1984 and has held senior leadership positions in finance, including corporate treasurer, sales, and operations. Prior to this promotion, she was VP, Sonoco Protective Solutions. Arthur graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in accounting and worked in public accounting, becoming a certified public accountant. In 2000, she received an MBA from Duke University. She is member of the AICPA and South Carolina Association of CPAs and is a member of the South Carolina Automotive Association. She remains active in community activities, including previously serving on the boards of Coker College, the Byerly Foundation, and the Hartsville YMCA. Arthur and her husband, Stephen, have two grown children and have a home in Hartsville.

Coker, 54, has responsibility for the company's global composite can operations in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, as well as paper, tube, and core operations in Europe, Latin America, and Australasia. Combined, these businesses have annual sales of $1.8 billion, through 110 operations and 8,000 associates. Prior to this promotion, Coker was group VP, and during his 31-year career he has held several leadership positions running global consumer-related and industrial businesses.

Coker holds a B.A. in business administration from Wofford College and an MBA from Wake Forest University.  He is active in community and wildlife organizations, having served as past chairman of the Board of Trustees of Coker College and on the board of the Byerly Foundation and has been an active member of Ducks Unlimited. A native resident of Hartsville, he and his wife, Rhonda, have three grown children.

In this new position, Fuller, 55, has responsibility for the Sonoco Paper and Engineered Carriers businesses, including 12 uncoated recycled paper mills, 24 recovered paper recycling facilities, 40 tube and core converting facilities, and 16 wire and cable reels centers serving customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition, he assumes responsibility for the Sonoco Display and Packaging business, which operates 25 manufacturing and packaging facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Poland, and Brazil. Combined, these businesses have annual sales of $1.6 billion and 8,000 associates. Prior to this appointment, Fuller was group VP and has held leadership positions in both Sonoco Consumer and Industrial businesses during his 31-year career with Sonoco.

Fuller graduated from Berry College in Rome, Ga., with a B.S. degree in business administration and received an MBA from Emory University. He is active in industry and community service organizations, including serving on the board of the Paper and Packaging Board, the American Forest and Paper Association, and the Hartsville United Way. He and his wife, Helen, have two grown children and reside in Hartsville.