Launch or save PDF version
HARTSVILLE, S.C., Nov 20, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Sonoco (NYSE:SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging
companies, has been named a North America Top Company for Leaders by
Hewitt Associates, announced Cindy Hartley, senior vice president, Human
Resources. Sonoco was ranked number 20 on this year's list of North
America's Top 25 Companies for Leaders.
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, the Top
Companies for Leaders in North America is the most comprehensive study
of organizational leadership in the world. 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.
"Hewitt would like to congratulate Sonoco on being named one of the Top
Companies for Leaders in North America," said Bob Gandossy, global
practice leader of Hewitt's Leadership Consulting practice. "All global
companies today are facing a number of complex business and economic
challenges. Through our research, it's clear that Top Companies such as
Sonoco do not abandon key leadership and talent efforts in favor of
short-term goals. Leaders at these organizations are passionate and
committed. They have an intense focus on talent, and their leadership
programs are practical, relevant and aligned with business goals--in both
good times and bad. This mindset is not only what sets North America Top
Companies apart from the rest, it's what differentiates successful
businesses from unsuccessful ones."
Other companies making the 2009 list of North America's Top Companies
for Leaders include: IBM, Procter & Gamble, General Mills, McKinsey,
McDonald's, General Electric, Colgate-Palmolive, Deere, Whirlpool, 3M,
Cargill, Target, Eli Lilly, PepsiCo, American Express, Lockheed Martin,
Intel, DaVita, FedEx, Cummins, VF, Capital One Financial,
Hewlett-Packard and Raytheon.
About the Top Companies for Leaders Study
The Top Companies for Leaders study includes 537 organizations around
the globe, with an average employee size of 31,443. Eighty-two percent
of the participating companies have revenues of $100 million or more.
Nearly 42 percent have operations in all regions around the world.
Hewitt, The RBL Group and Fortune used a three-step screening
process to identify the finalist companies. This included survey
responses, conducting in-depth interviews and analyzing financial
performance in relation to industry. Hewitt provided this information to
a panel of independent judges in each region to select and rank a 2009
Top Companies for Leaders list in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America
and North America.
About Sonoco
Sonoco, founded in 1899, is a $4.1 billion global manufacturer of
consumer and industrial packaging products and provider of packaging
services, with more than 300 operations in 35 countries serving
customers in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the Dow Jones
Sustainability World Index. For more information on Sonoco, visit our
Web site at http://www.sonoco.com.
SOURCE: Sonoco
Sonoco
Robin Montgomery, 843-383-7085, robin.montgomery@sonoco.com;
www.sonoco.com