HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Sonoco, one of the largest global diversified packaging companies, today announced that Barry L. Saunders has been elected senior vice president and chief financial officer, according to Jack Sanders, president and chief executive officer.

Saunders, 56, who previously served as the Company's vice president and CFO, is responsible for the Company's global finance, treasury, audit, tax and accounting functions and also serves as chief accounting officer. He is a member of Sonoco's executive committee and reports to Sanders. 

"Barry provides strong leadership and expert counsel to our Board's Audit Committee and Sonoco management," said Sanders. "During his 26-year career with Sonoco, he has held several key finance positions in corporate and global operations and has extensive international experience."

Saunders joined Sonoco in 1989 after working as an audit manager with Ernst & Young. He worked in leadership positions in the Company's Treasury Department for seven years before becoming director of corporate reporting and accounting. He then moved to Brussels, Belgium, for four years as director of finance for the Company's European operations before returning as staff vice president and global controller of the Company's Industrial businesses. He was promoted to staff vice president and corporate controller in 2003 and was elected vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer in 2008 before being elected CFO in 2011.

A resident of Hartsville, S.C., Saunders holds a B.S. in accounting and an MBA from the University of South Carolina. He is a Certified Public Accountant and serves on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, and he is treasurer of the Byerly Foundation in Hartsville.