Sam Wharfe FCILT

Transitioned from Founder CEO to Executive Chairman to focus on high-level strategic direction, innovation, and governance while empowering a new leadership team to drive day-to-day operations. Provide board-level oversight of C9’s long-term vision, values, and market positioning as one of the UK’s most respected transport and logistics recruitment brands. Actively involved in high-impact partnerships, advisory board development, and industry engagement across the passenger transport sector. Guide the company’s growth through strategic input across technology, automation, compliance, and market disruption — ensuring C9 stays ahead of sector shifts. Serve as a mentor and strategic sounding board to the CEO and leadership team, ensuring cultural continuity and operational excellence during the transition phase and beyond. Continue to represent C9 at the highest levels of industry, regulatory, and commercial conversations, while also focusing on new ventures that complement and elevate the brand.

- Founded and developed C9 Recruitment, a specialist logistics recruitment agency, achieving a high reputation across the sector. - Led financial forecasting, budget management, and strategic business planning. - Chaired the board, engaging with external stakeholders to drive business objectives. - Spearheaded the company’s vision, ensuring alignment with market trends. - Lead diverse teams across operations, recruitment, PR, marketing, tech, and payroll, ensuring overall company performance to the point they are self-sufficient.

Supporter and advocate of the London Transport Museum’s initiatives promoting innovation, heritage, and education across the UK transport sector. Engage with senior industry leaders to advance public understanding of sustainable transport and its future.

Judge & Mentor for TeenTech Awards 2026, supporting young people to turn bold ideas into real impact. Giving back to teens from similar backgrounds, while championing innovation and future talent alongside the inspiring TeenTech team.

Member of the Carmen Livery and appointed to the Membership Committee and also the Education Committee. Supporting heritage, fellowship, and the future of logistics through outreach, mentoring, and civic engagement within London’s most ancient livery companies.

Consultant to many businesses in the public and private sector

I led global office management, utilising Office 365, Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS. My expertise in SharePoint administration, Cisco and Palo Alto networking, Microsoft SQL Server, Citrix and VMWare virtualisation enabled me to effectively manage the IT budget and help desk performance, while implementing and enforcing IT policies to provide high-level service to internal customers.

- Managing large workforce for on-site technical support, addressing network issues and provisioning new systems. - Ensured reliable and secure IT infrastructure, supporting operational needs.

- Led a global team managing IT Security policies, Group Policy, Active Directory, and Exchange environments. - Provided extensive out-of-hours support, ensuring continuous service availability.

- Led a team of Technical Consultants, supporting over 5000 end-users with a focus on Group Policy and Active Directory. - Managed IT infrastructure, ensuring reliable and efficient service delivery.