David Athias - General Manager

Q: Where is David based?

David is based in Annecy, France .

Q: What languages does David speak?

David speaks the following languages: French (Native), English (Advanced), German (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does David have?

David has at least 26 years of experience. During this time, David has worked in at least 5 different roles and for 5 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 5 years and 3 months . Note that David may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is David's latest experience?

David's most recent position is General Manager at ABR – ORCAB .

Q: What companies has David worked for in recent years?

In recent years, David has worked for ABR – ORCAB .

Q: Which industries is David most experienced in?

David is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing , Construction , and Transportation .

Q: Which business areas is David most experienced in?

David is most experienced in business areas like Operations , Sales , and Supply Chain Management . David also has some experience in Procurement , Logistics , and Strategy .

Q: Which industries has David worked in recently?

David has recently worked in industries like Construction .

Q: Which business areas has David worked in recently?

David has recently worked in business areas like Finance , Human Resources , and Logistics .

Recommended expert

Annecy, France

Check rate

Experience

Apr 2012 - Jul 2024

12 years 4 months

France

General Manager

ABR – ORCAB

Developed and implemented the 5-year strategic plan: structured the executive committee, led major projects (creation of a 1,100 m² showroom, warehouse, offices, and €5.5M investments).
Business and territorial development: opened a Savoie-Isère branch (€3.3M revenue in 36 months), grew the member network from 138 to 272, and launched benchmark professional events.
Operational and logistics redesign: optimized processes, moved to 2x8 shifts during peak periods, integrated the Reflex WMS, and digitized services for cooperative members.
Crisis management and turnaround: led an ad hoc mandate with full recovery in 6 months, supported HR, set up the works council (CSE), and strengthened middle management.
Performance monitoring and financial steering: improved working capital, managed margin indicators, renegotiated strategic purchases, and controlled logistics costs.

Results: revenue growth from €19M to €31.7M, improved profitability, and modernized governance.

Feb 2010 - Dec 2011

1 year 11 months

Saint-Aubin, Switzerland

Industrial Site Manager & Sales Manager France / French-speaking Switzerland

BURGAT SA GROUP

Overall management of the industrial site: production, logistics, international supply chain, quality, and equipment maintenance.
B2B and B2C business development in France and French-speaking Switzerland (30,000 m³/year) and winning new accounts in retail and the wood industry.
Implementation of a dedicated ERP for the wood sector (Mauchanp): stock management, traceability, sales automation, and productivity tracking.
Oversight of a biomass boiler plant to recover sawmill waste and reduce energy costs.

Results: 32% improvement in productivity and stronger site profitability.

Oct 1998 - Jul 2001

2 years 10 months

Besançon, France

Founder – General Manager

REPAL

Created and developed a pallet recycling and wood recovery business for regional industrial companies.
Structured a complete offer for the management of mixed industrial wood waste (DIB): collection, sorting, recovery, and resale.
Developed a multi-sector client portfolio (industry, distribution, logistics).

Results: rapid revenue growth over 3 years and later integration into a regional group.

Jan 1998 - Mar 2009

11 years 3 months

Besançon, France

General Manager (Partner) – Purchasing & Sales

LORIOD EMBALLAGE RECYCLAGE

Merged and integrated REPAL, LORIOD, and RIBAUD: defined a new industrial organization and aligned sales and HR policies.
Developed sales in France and Switzerland: built partnerships with distributors and industrial companies, won new markets, and diversified the product offer.
Implemented a QSE management system: achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications, secured the site, and raised team awareness.
Industrial management: production management (800,000 units/year), European sourcing (15,000 m³/year), and logistics optimization.

Results: doubled revenue, improved margins, and maintained operations after receivership and workforce reduction plan.

Jan 1997 - Aug 1998

1 year 8 months

Paris, France

Wood Sector Consultant

FCBA TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE

Carried out export audits for sawmills and wood processing companies in Europe.
Wrote the European reference framework for wood packaging and coordinated work between French and Polish stakeholders.
Conducted qualitative and quantitative studies on production sectors and international wood markets.
Took part in designing a European regulatory framework and promoting French industrial know-how.

Results: creation of a benchmark reference framework for the wood sector, recognized at European level.

National Administrator

Réseau ORCAB

Contributed to the national strategy of the network (goal: €2bn, 10,000 members) and took part in the wood strategic committee.
Led the Wood and Insulation Commission (€380m/year): defined the group buying plan, coordinated 700 suppliers, and set up a listing plan.
Developed cooperatives in new areas, supported the creation of new structures, and helped roll out the CSR approach.
Developed new digital services: tools for communication between cooperatives, purchasing reporting, and a shared sourcing platform.

Results: direct contribution to the growth of the ORCAB network from €580m to €1.35bn.

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Manufacturing, Construction, and Transportation.

Manufacturing

Construction

Transportation

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Operations, Sales, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, and Strategy.

Operations

Sales

Supply Chain Management

Procurement

Logistics

Strategy

Summary

A leader passionate about growth, transformation, and lasting business performance, I have more than twenty years of experience in general management. I have led industrial, commercial, and cooperative organizations in France and abroad, in growth, restructuring, and innovation contexts.

I like building a clear strategic vision, bringing teams together around ambitious goals, and putting in place agile, results-driven organizations. My career has led me to manage large-scale projects: territorial expansion, turnaround plans, process digitalization, ERP/WMS integration, and the rollout of CSR initiatives.

Skills

Management & Leadership
Team Management
Change Management
Crisis Management And Turnaround
Csr And Sustainability Rollout
Technical
Logistics & Supply Chain
Erp / Wms Implementation
Qse Certification (Iso 9001 / 14001)
Development & International
B2b Development
International Business Development
Digital Transformation
It Skills
Microsoft Office
Divalto Erp
Reflex Wms
Dl NéGoce Crm

Languages

French

Native

English

Advanced

German

Elementary

Education

Oct 2024 - Jun 2025

CPA France

Advanced Management Program · Strategic Audits for Mid-Sized Companies · France

EMLYON

Executive MBA · Leadership & Performance · Lyon, France

IAE Besançon

M2 · Control, Accounting, Audit · Besançon, France

...and 3 more

Certifications & licenses

Director Certification

EMLYON

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 6

Experience in Manufacturing 14 y

Avg length 4 y 11 m

Longest experience 12 y 3 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 2 (France, Switzerland)

Primary country France

Expertise

Recent roles General Manager, Industrial Site Manager & Sales Manager France / French-speaking Switzerland, Founder – General Manager

Main industries Manufacturing, Construction, Transportation

Main business areas Operations, Sales, Supply Chain Management

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 1

Profile

Created

August 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

David is based in Annecy, France.

David speaks the following languages: French (Native), English (Advanced), German (Elementary).

David has at least 26 years of experience. During this time, David has worked in at least 5 different roles and for 5 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 5 years and 3 months. Note that David may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, David would be well-suited for roles such as: General Manager, Industrial Site Manager & Sales Manager France / French-speaking Switzerland, Founder – General Manager.

David's most recent position is General Manager at ABR – ORCAB.

In recent years, David has worked for ABR – ORCAB.

David is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Construction, and Transportation.

David is most experienced in business areas like Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain Management. David also has some experience in Procurement, Logistics, and Strategy.

David has recently worked in industries like Construction.

David has recently worked in business areas like Finance, Human Resources, and Logistics.

David holds a Master in Leadership & Performance from EMLYON, a Master in Control, Accounting, Audit from IAE Besançon and a Master in Strategic Marketing from INM Groupe IFG / University Paris X.

David has 1 certificate: Director Certification.

The availability of David needs to be confirmed.

David's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.

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