GlobeNewswire Inc | Oct 19, 2020 06:45AM EDT

October 19, 2020

HARTSVILLE, S.C., Oct. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonoco (NYSE: SON), one of the most diversified global packaging companies, today announced that Eleni Istavridis has been elected to its Board of Directors. In addition, the Company announced that Harry A. Cockrell has decided not to stand for reelection to the Board at the Companys Annual General Meeting in April 2021.

Istavridis, 63, has extensive leadership experience in banking and manufacturing, spending more than two decades working in Asia. She currently is a business consultant residing in McLean, VA. Istavridis retired from Bank of New York Mellon in 2015 where she was Executive Vice President and Head of Investment Services for Asia Pacific in Hong Kong. She was a member of BNY Mellon's Operating Committee, Investment Services Executive Committee and Asia Pacific Executive Committee. In addition, she co-chaired the banks Womens Initiative Network (WIN) in Asia Pacific. With 14 chapters across the Asia Pacific region, WIN serves as a platform for employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and outreach to local communities and professional networks.

Prior to joining BNY Mellon, Istavridis held senior leadership positions at Deutsche Bank and Bankers Trust in Asia. She also served as President and COO of Tristate Holdings, a Hong Kong-based apparel manufacturing company. She started her career at McKinsey and Company, serving financial institutions in the United States and Asia.

Cockrell, 70, is managing director of Pacific Tiger Group Limited, a Hong Kong-based privately held investment enterprise with a wide-range of business and assets across the Asia/Pacific. He has served on the board since 2013.

We are extremely pleased to have Eleni joining Sonocos Board as she brings a wealth of experience in banking, manufacturing and business development, while spending much of her career engaged with Asian businesses, which is an important region for Sonocos growth, said John Haley, Sonocos Chairman of the Board of Directors. Also, on behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Harry for his many years of commitment to Sonoco, first as partner in the development of Sonocos Asia/Pacific business, and then serving on the board. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

Istavridis received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College, a Master in International Affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. She also participated in numerous community service activities supporting educational enrichment in emerging Asian markets.

Istavridis is an independent member of the Sonoco Board and will stand for election by shareholders at the Companys April 2021 Annual General Meeting.

About SonocoFounded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE: SON) is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately$5.4 billion, the Company has 23,000 employees working in approximately 300 operations in 36 countries, serving some of the worlds best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is committed to creating sustainable products, services and programs for our customers, employees and communities that support our corporate purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life. The Company ranked first in the Packaging sector on Fortunes Worlds Most Admired Companies for 2020 as well as Barrons 100 Most Sustainable Companies. For more information, visit www.sonoco.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0adb615c-7919-411f-a561-716e27bbe0fc

Contact:Roger Schrum+843-339-6018roger.schrum@sonoco.com