Michael Friedlander, CIO of the Americas at The Magnum Ice Cream Company, is tasked with building the enterprise's entire IT infrastructure from scratch. The company, spun out of Unilever in 2025, encompasses brands such as Ben & Jerry's, Breyers, Magnum, and Klondike. Friedlander's role involves designing the technology stack for a business valued at nearly $10 billion.
Friedlander is implementing AI-capable platforms, with a phased rollout of these features across different markets. He notes that the technological needs vary significantly, from serving thousands of small direct-store customers in Mexico to managing large-scale U.S. accounts comparable to Walmart. "We don’t necessarily need to turn on all the AI capabilities right away, but it gives us a foundation to build on," Friedlander stated. "We've invested in cybersecurity and frameworks that allow us to make sure that our environment, reputation, and brand are protected."
He has also emerged as a vocal critic of what he terms "AI agent sprawl." Friedlander argues that some companies adopt custom agents prematurely, overlooking the potential of existing platforms they have already invested in. "Why build something new if we don't have to?" he questioned, emphasizing a pragmatic approach to leveraging current technology investments.
Friedlander was recognized on the 2026 TIME Executives of the Year: Tech and Data list for his work in shaping the future of technology.