Sonoco, one of the largest global diversified packaging companies, has elected Richard G. Kyle to its board of directors.

Kyle is president, chief executive officer, and board member of The Timken Co. A $3.1 billion global company headquartered in North Canton, OH, Timken engineers, manufactures, and markets Timken bearings, transmissions, gearboxes, chain and related products, and offers a spectrum of power system rebuild and repair services. Prior to being elected president and CEO in 2014, Kyle served as chief operating officer of Timken's Bearings and Power Transmission Group. Previously he was group president responsible for the company's aerospace and steel segments, as well as the engineering and technology organizations.

"We're very pleased to have Rich join our Board,” said Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., executive chairman of Sonoco's board of directors. “He brings tested executive leadership along with strong manufacturing and technical expertise working with diversified markets around the world, which is extremely important to Sonoco's global consumer, industrial and protective solutions businesses."

Kyle, 49, is a native of Mishawaka, IN, received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, and later earned his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Prior to joining Timken in 2006, Kyle held management positions with Cooper Industries and later was vice president of operations for a division of Hubbell Inc. He resides in Canton, OH, and serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Greater Stark County.

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized combined sales of $5 billion, the company has more than 21,000 employees working in more than 300 operations in 34 countries, serving some of the world's best known brands in 85 nations.

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