Newton, North Carolina, United States, November 2025 – Tree Brand Packaging has announced the appointment of Chris McSwain as Vice President of Human Resources, marking a strategic addition to its leadership team as the company continues to expand its operations across the Southeast. In his new role, Chris will lead HR strategy, organizational development, and people operations to strengthen the company’s workforce, culture, and growth initiatives.
Before joining Tree Brand Packaging, Chris served as Director of People and Organization (HR) at Husqvarna Group, where he led the human resources function for the company’s 2.5 million sq. ft. North American manufacturing facility and multiple remote warehouses. His leadership played a crucial role in driving engagement, performance, and operational excellence within a 1,400-employee workforce.
In addition, Chris is the Principal Consultant and Founder of Human Resources Engineering (HRE) Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in comprehensive HR solutions across industries. For over seven years, he has partnered with organizations to design and implement strategic human capital initiatives, fostering performance improvement, leadership development, and cultural transformation.
Previously, Chris held senior HR leadership roles as VP/Director of Human Resources at von Drehle Corporation and VP/Director of Human Resources at NGK Ceramics USA, Inc.. At von Drehle, he led HR, EHS, and customer service functions across six U.S. locations, implementing cost-efficient systems, HR metrics, and recognition programs that improved safety and engagement. At NGK Ceramics, he managed a large manufacturing workforce and created the NGK Center for Performance Improvement, integrating leadership development, training, and continuous improvement programs across teams.
Earlier in his career, Chris served as Human Resources & EHS Manager at Paragon Films, SVP/VP of Human Resources at Yadkin Valley Bank & Trust Co., and Operations Training & Development Manager at Coca-Cola Consolidated, where he built and managed people development initiatives across large operational teams. He began his professional journey at CommScope, where over 11 years he advanced through multiple roles from Quality Associate to Corporate Development Specialist, gaining broad experience in performance management, succession planning, and organizational design.
About Tree Brand Packaging
Founded over 30 years ago, Tree Brand Packaging is a leading manufacturer of custom wood pallets, crates, and industrial packaging solutions that protect customer products in demanding distribution and storage environments. Headquartered in Newton, North Carolina, the company operates across seven Southeast locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and beyond. Serving industries such as steel, automotive, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and material handling, Tree Brand Packaging’s mission is to create valued partnerships that solve supply-chain challenges, reduce costs, and enhance profitability for its customers through exceptional service and design innovation.
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