Doug Saunders

Chief Technology Officer at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

About Doug Saunders

Doug Saunders is Chief Technology Officer at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. Location: Jacksonville, Florida, United States.

Transformational CIO with 25+ years of experience leading enterprise technology, digital innovation, and AI-driven operational improvement for multi-billion-dollar companies and private equity portfolio organizations. Recognized as a 2024 Florida CIO of the Year (Orbie Awards) and a finalist for National CIO of the year in 2026, I have built a career delivering measurable business results, operational scale, and technology strategies that enable growth, margin expansion, and world-class service performance. My leadership spans AI adoption, IoT innovation, analytics platforms, ERP modernization, cloud architecture, field service optimization, and enterprise PMO governance. I excel in complex, asset-intensive environments—logistics, manufacturing, distribution, environmental services, and field operations—where technology must drive reliability, efficiency, and EBITDA impact. Recent accomplishments include: • AI Order Automation: Implemented agentic AI to automate 400,000+ annual orders, improving customer experience and reducing call center staffing from 55 to 12—driving ~$3.5M EBITDA improvement. • IoT & Predictive Delivery: Deployed IoT sensors across merchandisers to enable demand-driven routing, eliminating 100,000+ unnecessary stops and improving drop size 20%, generating ~$6M in EBITDA benefit. • Analytics Platform: Built enterprise analytics and predictive pricing models leveraging weather, cost-to-serve, seasonality, and demand patterns to strengthen forecasting, pricing strategy, and revenue growth. • Enterprise PMO Leadership: Established and governed a 37-project portfolio delivering ~$16M in annualized value across manufacturing, logistics, distribution, and compliance. Previously, I led Transformation, M&A Integration, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Customer Experience modernization at companies including SCA (Warburg Pincus), Advanced Disposal (public company prior to acquisition), Arvato Bertelsmann, and Republic Services. Across every role, I focus on building high-performing teams, establishing strong IT governance, elevating security posture, and creating durable technology foundations that scale with the business. I partner closely with CEOs, CFOs, Boards, and private equity sponsors to ensure technology investments directly support strategic and financial outcomes.

Skills

  • Digital Transformation
  • AI Strategy
  • Global Management

Additional experience

  • Chief Information Officer

    Arctic Glacier Premium Ice

    September 2023 – March 2026

Education

  • Master of Science (MS), The University of Alabama
  • BA, The University of Alabama