Transport and logistics industries staffing specialist C9 Recruitment has reshaped its senior leadership team. Alfie Rae (pictured, centre) is elevated to Chief Executive, with founder and previous postholder Sam Wharfe (pictured, right) moving to an Executive Chairman role.
The change has been made to support and enhance C9’s long-term strategy and growth. Mr Rae will work closely with Commercial Director Daniel Lunn (pictured, left) to continue to meet the evolving recruitment needs of sectors including coach and bus, the business says.
Mr Rae joined C9 in December 2024. He has strong recruitment experience and steps up from the position of Operations Director. As Chief Executive he will leverage his hands-on operational focus and track record of delivering client satisfaction and team growth.
Now as Executive Chairman, Mr Wharfe will focus on scaling C9 in international markets while continuing to shape its strategic direction and maintaining key industry relationships. A change of position within C9 will also allow him to focus on other ventures and wider plans built around “positive disruption” outside the recruitment world.
Meanwhile, Mr Lunn – who joined C9 Recruitment in 2024 having spent almost 20 years in commercial roles with routeone – will work with Mr Rae to drive business development and deliver the best experience to clients.
That will leverage Mr Lunn’s long experience in the coach and bus industry while bringing fresh perspectives to C9 from outside its core sphere and majoring on positive change.
Speaking about his move, Mr Rae says: “I am honoured to step into the Chief Executive role at C9 Recruitment and am extremely excited to deliver further on Sam’s vision for a trusted recruitment partner in a sector that needs positive disruption.
“With Sam’s ongoing guidance, vision and strategy from a leadership perspective with the advisory board, Daniel’s commercial expertise and the strength of our operational team, I am extremely confident that we will continue our upward trajectory and deepen the value we offer to the transport and logistics sectors tremendously.”
Mr Wharfe underlines how the transition is structed to ensure continuity and innovation and business growth while continuing delivery of “our service excellence to the transport industry, which we feel embedded with.”
He continues: “Alfie’s operational strengths, supported by Daniel, and the incoming further leadership team, are exactly what C9 needs to move forward. I am pleased to stay actively involved as Executive Chairman and to support the senior leadership team at a board level while still executing my day one vision of having a clean and compliant sector.”
Mr Lunn adds that he is “fully aligned” behind the new structure. “Having worked closely with Alfie and Sam, even traditionally as C9’s supplier and early on identifying its mission and values, I am excited by the opportunity to advance our commercial offerings and strengthen our service to partners and friends.”
Non-executive director Luke Robinson believes that the new leadership structure is “a pivotal step in C9’s journey.”
He continues: “Alfie’s promotion and Sam’s continued strategic oversight ensure a smooth transition and sustained focus on innovation and sector expertise backed by industry leading compliance models. I am confident that under this enhanced leadership strategy, C9 is posed for even greater success.”
