Allan Melgaard is the Global Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Scan Global Logistics, an international freight forwarding and logistics company headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Since co-founding the company in 2007, Melgaard has overseen its development from a small Nordic freight forwarder into a rapidly expanding global logistics enterprise with operations spanning multiple continents.
Scan Global Logistics was established by Melgaard and a group of partners with the objective of building a modern freight forwarding company capable of delivering flexible supply chain solutions across air, ocean, and road transportation. At the time of its founding, the company operated with a small team and a limited geographic footprint focused primarily on the Nordic logistics market. Over the following years, Melgaard led a strategy of international expansion, acquisitions, and sector specialization that transformed the company into a major global logistics provider.
Today Scan Global Logistics operates more than 200 offices in over 50 countries and employs more than 4,000 people worldwide. The company provides a broad portfolio of services including air freight, ocean freight, project logistics, road transport, contract logistics, and specialized supply chain solutions for industries such as humanitarian aid, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, technology, and industrial manufacturing. Through its international network, the company manages complex logistics projects and global freight movements for multinational clients and international organizations.
A defining feature of Melgaard’s leadership has been his focus on strategic growth through acquisitions and international partnerships. Since the late 2010s the company has pursued a series of acquisitions designed to expand its presence in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. One notable milestone occurred in 2016 when private equity firm AEA Investors acquired a majority stake in Scan Global Logistics, providing capital to accelerate global expansion and strengthen the company’s technology and logistics infrastructure.
Under Melgaard’s leadership the company has continued to scale rapidly. In 2023 the logistics group reported revenue exceeding €3 billion, reflecting strong growth in both freight forwarding and project logistics activities. The company has also invested in specialized logistics capabilities such as renewable energy logistics, humanitarian aid transport, and complex industrial cargo movements.
Melgaard has also emphasized the importance of sector specialization within freight forwarding. Scan Global Logistics has built dedicated logistics divisions serving industries such as wind energy, oil and gas, and humanitarian relief. The company has handled large-scale logistics operations for international organizations including United Nations agencies and global non-governmental organizations that require coordinated logistics across remote and complex environments.
Before co-founding Scan Global Logistics, Melgaard built his career in international freight forwarding and logistics management. He held senior leadership positions in several global logistics companies, gaining extensive experience in air freight operations, international shipping, and supply chain management. These roles provided him with insight into the operational challenges faced by multinational clients and helped shape his vision for a more agile and customer-focused logistics provider.
Beyond operational growth, Melgaard has focused on strengthening the company’s organizational culture and leadership development. As global CEO he has emphasized entrepreneurship within the organization, encouraging regional management teams to build strong local operations while remaining integrated within the company’s global logistics network.
Scan Global Logistics has also pursued sustainability initiatives under his leadership, including programs to reduce emissions across transport operations and investments in digital tools that enable customers to monitor and manage the environmental impact of their supply chains.
From its founding in 2007 to its current position as a multinational logistics provider, the growth of Scan Global Logistics reflects Melgaard’s strategy of combining entrepreneurial culture with global scale. As global chief executive and co-founder, Allan Melgaard continues to guide the company’s expansion while positioning it to compete in an increasingly complex and interconnected global logistics industry.
