Sonoco Names Kraus, Christensen, O'Neal to Lead Protective Solutions Divisions
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Kraus is responsible for commercial sales, business development, marketing, customer service, and product engineering, covering Sonoco's transportation, HVAC, and industrial components and protective packaging business. Christensen is responsible for all aspects of Sonoco Alloyd's operations, including sales, packaging design, thermoforming of blisters, trays and displays, printing, tooling and machinery, including the company's Alloyd sealing machines. O'Neal will be responsible for all aspects of operations, including direct manufacturing, process engineering, field engineering, and employee safety.
"Carl, Jeff and Ron have significant leadership experience in business development, operations, and process improvement, which is vitally important as Sonoco focuses on expanding its global Protective Solutions footprint," said Vicki Arthur, VP, Global Protective Solutions. "Carl is uniquely qualified for this new leadership role, having spent the past two years managing operations for all three business segments under Protective Solutions. Jeff brings more than 20 years of experience in the industry with a proven record of consistent revenue growth. Ron also has more than 20 years of global operations experience in several of Sonoco's businesses."
During his 27 years with Sonoco, Kraus has held many important roles in manufacturing at the division and global levels including division VP manufacturing North America Paper Converting, as well as division VP Global Industrial Manufacturing. Kraus holds a B.S. degree in industrial operations management from Auburn University.
Christensen came to Sonoco with the acquisition of Tegrant where he served as VP of sales for the Protexic business unit. He has more than 20 years of sales, marketing, and engineering experience in the industrial, automation, electrical products, and controls industries. Prior to joining Tegrant, he was VP of sales and GM of the industrial, automotive, and medical markets of Microstaq Inc., a manufacturer of silicon-based electronic control valves. He has also held leadership positions in sales, business development, and general management with increasing levels of responsibility at Danaher and General Electric. Christensen holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Baylor University.
O'Neal has held numerous important roles during his 23 years with Sonoco, including director of operations, Protective Packaging; division VP of manufacturing, Tubes and Core NA; and European operations division VP, Paper Converting. Prior to joining Sonoco, O'Neal held various manufacturing roles with Republic Packaging Corp., a national supplier of design and fabricated cushion packaging materials sold primarily to the electronics industry. He has a B.S. degree in business administration from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.
