Feb 08, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Sonoco's Board of Directors has elected James M. Micali as its independent Lead Director, effective immediately. This appointment replaces the current practice of having an independent Board committee chairman rotate as presiding director, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. Micali has been an independent director of Sonoco since 2003 and currently serves as chair of the Board’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Lead Director’s duties include presiding at executive sessions of the independent directors and at any meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present. In addition, the Lead Director will confer with the Chairman regarding Board meeting agendas, schedules and information sent to the Board, along with other duties. Since 2008, Micali has been senior advisor to, and limited partner of, Azalea Fund III of Azalea Capital LLC, Greenville, S.C. He retired as chairman and president of Michelin North America, Inc., of Greenville, S.C., in August 2008. Micali is also a director of SCANA Corporation, Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers, Inc., and American Tire Distributors Holding, Inc. Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and packaging supply chain services.