# Howard Coker

> Howard Coker is president and CEO of Sonoco, based in Hartsville, South Carolina. A Sonoco employee since 1985 and CEO since 2020, he has led sales, manufacturing and international packaging businesses. His tenure includes the Ball Metalpack and Eviosys acquisitions and a portfolio simplification around consumer and industrial packaging. A Wofford graduate with a Wake Forest MBA, he also serves in manufacturing and educational governance.

- **Role:** President and CEO at Sonoco
- **Organizations:** Sonoco Products Company, Wofford College, Manufacturers Alliance, American Forest & Paper Association, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
- **Education:** BA in Business Administration, Wofford College, MBA, Wake Forest University
- **Known for:** South Carolina Chamber of Commerce 2021 Business Leader of the Year., Led Sonoco during acquisitions that expanded its metal packaging operations., Supported matching initiatives for student experiences at Wofford College.

## Career timeline

- **1985** — Graduated from Wofford College and joined Sonoco.
- **1990** — Completed an MBA at Wake Forest University.
- **1990s** — Moved from factory management in Ohio to an assignment in Singapore.
- **2005-2006** — Promotion to division vice president and general manager of Sonoco Phoenix announced December 2005, effective January 1, 2006.
- **2015-2017** — Group vice president with responsibilities in global rigid paper and closures and industrial products across EMEA, Asia and Australasia.
- **2017-2018** — Senior vice president, Rigid Paper Containers and Paper/Engineered Carriers International.
- **2019-2020** — Senior vice president, Global Paper/Industrial Converted Products.
- **2020** — Appointed president and CEO and elected to Sonoco’s board in February.
- **2022** — Sonoco completed its Ball Metalpack acquisition during his tenure.
- **2024** — Sonoco completed its Eviosys acquisition in December.
- **2025** — Sonoco sold its Thermoformed and Flexibles Packaging business to TOPPAN in April.
- **2026** — Named vice chair of Wofford College’s board of trustees.

## Achievements

- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce 2021 Business Leader of the Year.
- Led Sonoco during acquisitions that expanded its metal packaging operations.
- Supported matching initiatives for student experiences at Wofford College.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Discussed second-quarter results: net sales of $1.885 billion and adjusted net income of $151 million, with productivity and cost controls helping offset inflation.
- **2026-06** — Wofford College announced him as vice chair of its board of trustees.
- **2026-03** — Andrea White discussed Coker’s interest in her manufacturing experience in an account of her appointment as CHRO.
- **2026-01** — Sonoco announced that business-unit presidents would report directly to Coker following Rodger Fuller’s retirement, without appointing another COO.

## Links

- Website: https://www.sonoco.com/leadership/howard-coker
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-coker

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Last updated: 2026-10-21