David Boulanger
Executive Vice President & CSO Supply Chain Arla Foods
ABOUT THE WINNER
David Boulanger discovered his passion for supply chains right after engineering school, where his love for maths and operational research found real purpose.
Since 1993, David has been on a mission to turn supply chains into a strategic advantage. Today, he leads that mission at Arla Foods, a global dairy cooperative headquartered in Denmark. Passionate about sustainability and new digital technologies, he is especially proud that Arla’s supply chain is on track to deliver its Paris Agreement commitments while improving efficiency.
Off the factory floor, David recharges in the mountains (skiing in winter and hiking in summer) and never misses watching France play rugby. For him, a good supply chain is like a great climb: sustainable, smart, and always moving forward, from farm to fridge.
Congratulations, David Boulanger!
Case Study Highlights
At Arla Foods, David Boulanger is leading a transformation to build a carbon-neutral supply chain while maintaining cost efficiency. Arla is piloting technologies like hydrogen and thermal energy storage, creating “lighthouse sites” to scale proven innovations across its 60+ locations.
David emphasizes that sustainability and efficiency are not mutually exclusive. Arla’s approach focuses on reducing consumption first: “the best energy is the one you do not consume,” and prioritizes low-cost, high-impact CO2 reduction projects that also deliver long-term value.
His leadership style centers on empowering decision-making close to the shop floor. By piloting new technologies selectively and scaling only validated solutions, David balances ambition with accountability in a complex, volatile global environment.
Team focus is essential to Arla’s success. David invests in building communities of future-ready leaders who share knowledge, navigate trade-offs, and stay current in digital and sustainability domains, ensuring Arla’s dairy supply chain remains innovative and responsible.
