Sonoco Products Company has named Francesco Giannolo as vice-president and general manager for its consumer packaging business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Joining the company in 2019, Giannolo became vice-president and general manager of Sonoco’s rigid paper containers business in EMEA in 2022, alongside other senior sales posts.

He reports to Ernest Haynes, who heads Sonoco’s global consumer packaging segment.

Earlier this month, Sonoco brought its global consumer packaging operations together under one leadership structure headed by Haynes.

In that position, Haynes oversees the company’s biggest global division, which has about $5.2bn in yearly sales, 98 sites in 25 countries and 11,250 staff.

Haynes said: “As we align our global consumer packaging businesses, it is critical that we have a strong, experienced leader in the EMEA region. Francesco is that leader.

“We look forward to even greater focus on innovation, productivity and customer service.”

Originally from Naples, Italy, Giannolo has spent 23 years in the packaging sector.

He started his career at Crown Packaging in 2004, where he became plant manager.

He later moved to Amcor, first as plant general manager in the medical division and then into its commercial excellence team, where he held the position of senior director of commercial excellence for EMEA.

Founded in 1899, Sonoco makes metal and paper packaging for consumer and industrial uses.

The company reported net sales of $7.5bn from continuing operations in 2025 and employs about 22,000 people across 263 sites in 37 countries.