Staff Report
Published Oct. 11, 2012

Hartsville-based Sonoco, a global packaging company, today announced Marty F. Pignone has been named vice president of its North American paper operations, effective Dec. 1.

Pignone will replace John M. Grups, 61, division vice president and general manager, who will be retiring from Sonoco following a 36-year career.

Pignone, 55, will be responsible for Sonoco's 12 uncoated recycled paperboard mills in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and related support functions. He reports to John Colyer, vice president of the company’s paper and industrial converted products.

He joined Sonoco in 1997 and was elevated to division vice president and general manager of the company’s North American paper business in 2000. He became vice president of global manufacturing in 2009 and later vice president of operating excellence. In his most recent role, Pignone led the company's global manufacturing improvement initiatives as well as supply management and product quality improvement.

Prior to joining Sonoco, Pignone worked for General Electric and Kodak.

Grups' retirement will be effective March 31. During the transition, he will work with Pignone on several manufacturing initiatives. Grups took over the company's primary materials group in September 2011 after serving as staff vice president of operating excellence for eight years.