Apr 20, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. Sonoco announced that Barry L. Saunders has been elected vice president and CFO, according to Harris E. DeLoach Jr., Chairman and CEO. The appointment is effective May 1, 2011, and Saunders will report to DeLoach and join the company’s executive committee. Saunders, who currently serves as the company’s vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer, will replace Charles J. Hupfer, senior vice president, who has served as CFO since May 2002. Hupfer will be retiring after reaching the age of 65 in May 2011, capping a 35-year finance career with the company. “During Barry’s 22-year career with Sonoco, he has held several key leadership positions in treasury, finance and accounting in both corporate and global operations. He has extensive international experience and has done an excellent job in the company’s critical chief accounting officer role,” said DeLoach. “We look forward to working with Barry as Sonoco’s next CFO.” “I also want to personally thank Charlie for all he has done for Sonoco during his career. He has actively participated in driving Sonoco’s growth while building our strong capital structure through numerous debt financings. He has established a solid finance organization and implemented processes that have driven transparency to management, rating agencies, regulators and investors,” DeLoach concluded, adding that Hupfer will retire on May 31, 2011. Saunders joined Sonoco in 1989 after working as an audit manager with Ernst & Young. He worked in leadership positions in the company’s Treasury department for seven years before becoming director of corporate reporting and accounting. He then moved to Brussels, Belgium, for four years as director of finance for the company’s European operations before returning as staff vice president and global controller of the company’s Industrial businesses. He was promoted to staff vice president and corporate controller in 2003 and has been responsible for corporate accounting, financial reporting and all global business unit finance. He was elected vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer in 2008. Sonoco is a $4.1 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with more than 300 operations in 34 countries.