Hartsville, S.C. – April 5, 2018 – Coker College and its board of trustees is pleased to announce Sonoco Products Company’s newly elected President and CEO, Robert C. Tiede, will give the college’s 110th commencement address on Saturday morning, May 12, 2018.
“Sonoco Products Company and Coker College have a historic connection, a communal connection, and, hopefully, a continuing connection,” says Coker College President Dr. Robert Wyatt. “We’re honored to have Rob Tiede address the class of 2018, and we’re looking forward to hearing his advice for our 200+ graduating seniors.”
Tiede, who serves on the Sonoco Board of Directors, has had global leadership, sales and operating responsibility for all of Sonoco’s diversified consumer, industrial and protective packaging businesses. Since joining Sonoco in 2004, Tiede has led all of Sonoco’s global consumer-related businesses. Most recently, he served as senior vice president, Global Consumer Packaging and Services, responsible for the Company’s Corporate Customer program as well as its Rigid Plastics, Flexibles and Display and Packaging businesses. During his tenure at Sonoco, the Company’s consumer-related businesses have increased sales by approximately 90 percent and operating profits by 120 percent, as the Company’s consumer growth strategy developed broader global packaging and services capabilities.
Tiede, who graduated from Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is a chartered accountant/CPA with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants for Manitoba and Canada. He joined Sonoco as president of Sonoco CorrFlex with the 2004 acquisition of CorrFlex Graphics’ point-of-purchase merchandising display and supply chain management business. In 2006, Tiede assumed responsibility for Sonoco’s global packaging services business, and in 2007 he was named division vice president and general manager of the Company’s Flexible Packaging division.
Prior to joining Sonoco, Tiede worked in private equity as president of Bostic Packaging/CorrFlex from 2000 to 2004 and president of Sterling International from 1998 to 2000. He also served as executive vice president of operations for Graphic Packaging International, Inc.’s flexible packaging division from 1994 to 1998.
Tiede is active in industry and community organizations and is the former chairman of the Flexible Packaging Association and the chairman of the Hartsville United Way. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Tiede became a U.S. citizen in 2013. He and his wife, Val, reside in Hartsville and have three grown children.
Sonoco is a $5 billion global provider of consumer packaging, industrial products and packaging supply chain services, producing packaging for many of the world’s most recognized brands, in markets such as appliances and electronics, automotive, beverages, confection, construction, converted paperboard, fresh and natural food, frozen and refrigerated food, shaving, home, lawn and garden, medical/pharmaceutical, pet care, powdered beverages, recycling and snacks. Headquartered in Hartsville, S.C., Sonoco has more than 300 operations in 33 countries, and serves customers in 85 nations.
Coker College’s 110th commencement will take place on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. in the Courtyard at Davidson Hall.
