Sonoco Named a Top 25 Company for Leaders in N.A.

HARTSVILLE, S.C.—Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, has been named a North America Top Company for Leaders by Hewitt Associates, The RBL Group, and Fortune, announced Cindy Hartley, senior vice president, Human Resources. Sonoco was ranked number 20 on this year’s list of Top Companies for Leaders in North America.

Conducted by Hewitt Associates, a global consulting and outsourcing company, in partnership with The RBL Group, a strategic HR and leadership systems advisory firm, and Fortune magazine, Top Companies for Leaders is a comprehensive worldwide study of organizational leadership. An expert panel of independent judges selected and ranked winners based on criteria including strength and depth of leadership practices, culture, examples of developing world-class leaders, business performance, and company reputation.

“Sonoco is extremely honored to be named a Top Company for Leaders for the third consecutive time, and to be the only packaging company on the list,” said Hartley. “We have always believed that ‘People Build Businesses’ and know that at the most successful companies, managers play the primary role in selecting, developing, and retaining leaders. That’s why at Sonoco, managers, not Human Resources, are responsible for developing their employees. Our managers give their employees ongoing coaching, focused training, and exposure to new areas through special projects. They also make sure employees know they’re valued, reward them based on their performance, and communicate where they stand in terms of career growth."

When comparing the North America Top Companies for Leaders with 177 other companies, Hewitt identified one distinguishing characteristic that sets them apart from their peers: even during the economic downturn, North America Top Companies for Leaders remained committed to building leadership capability within their organizations. In other words, tighter budgets and fewer resources forced these organizations to think and act smarter and more creatively about what really mattered when it came to leadership, but they didn’t lose focus.