Personnel

Vanguard Renewables selects chief sustainability officer

Vanguard Renewables, an organics-to-renewable energy company based in Wellesley, Massachusetts, has appointed David Darr as its chief sustainability officer. Darr joins Vanguard Renewables from Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) in Kansas City, Kansas.

“For more than 20 years, David has worked to enhance sustainable and regenerative farming practices across the United States,” says Neil H. Smith, CEO of Vanguard Renewables. “David’s knowledge, expertise and energy will be instrumental in guiding our sustainability initiatives and solutions internally and for our farm and food industry partners.”

Previously, Darr served as senior vice president, chief strategy and sustainability officer at DFA—a farmer-owned cooperative with more than 12,500 members producing ingredients for cheese, butter, ice cream, milk and more.

Darr provided leadership and strategic direction for DFA. He helped to develop viable, sustainable and cost-effective processes to enhance income streams, herd health and production.

At Vanguard Renewables, Darr will work across all areas of the business to lead internal and partner sustainability initiatives to meet the needs that the climate crisis demands.

“I’ve been passionate about sustainability, food and farming my whole life,” he says. “Joining Vanguard is an opportunity to even more deeply ‘talk the talk and walk the walk,’ expanding sustainable initiatives for agriculture and the food industry and producing renewable energy. Developing projects and establishing partnerships and relationships that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support local farmers and their communities is incredibly important at this moment in time,” Darr says.