Francesco Giannolo secures key EMEA role in Sonoco’s unified consumer unit

Sonoco Products Company has appointed Francesco Giannolo as vice-president and general manager for its consumer packaging operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Giannolo, who joined Sonoco in 2019, has been the vice-president and general manager of the company's rigid paper containers business in EMEA since 2022, alongside other senior sales positions.

He now reports to Ernest Haynes, who oversees Sonoco's global consumer packaging segment. Earlier this month, Sonoco consolidated its global consumer packaging businesses under Haynes' leadership, which manages a $5.2bn annual revenue stream, 98 facilities across 25 countries, and 11,250 employees. Haynes stated that Giannolo's strong leadership is crucial for driving innovation, productivity, and customer service in the EMEA region.

Born in Naples, Italy, Giannolo has dedicated 23 years to the packaging industry. He began his career at Crown Packaging in 2004, advancing to the role of plant manager. Subsequently, he transitioned to Amcor, initially as plant general manager in the medical division before becoming senior director of commercial excellence for EMEA.

Sonoco, established in 1899, manufactures metal and paper packaging for both consumer and industrial applications. The company generated $7.5bn in net sales from ongoing operations in 2025 and maintains a workforce of approximately 22,000 individuals at 263 locations worldwide.