Summary:
Join us for a special founders' dinner featuring two extraordinary entrepreneurs, David Emerson and Mark White, who scaled SEKO Logistics from a modest freight forwarder into a global logistics leader with revenues nearing $2 billion before successfully exiting to private equity.
This is an evening of real-world wisdom, remarkable stories, and practical lessons from two founders who have navigated growth, international expansion, M&A, and exits at the highest level. From customs brokerage at Heathrow to negotiating with global investors, David and Mark have been on both sides of the boardroom table and bring a rare blend of operational know-how, strategic insight, and entrepreneurial grit.
What Founders Can Expect:
- How to build in a highly competitive and complex sector
- Lessons from scaling internationally without losing operational control
- What makes a business attractive to private equity and strategic buyers
- The emotional and strategic process behind exiting a high-growth business
- Why logistics, technology, and customer-centricity are more intertwined than ever
Whether you’re preparing for scale, thinking about an eventual exit, or simply curious about how category-defining businesses are built, this is a unique opportunity to learn from two leaders who have done it and are now backing the next generation of founders.
About David Emerson:
David began his logistics career at 17 as a customs broker at Heathrow. He went on to hold senior roles at Expeditors International and EGL before co-founding SEKO Logistics alongside Mark White and Keith O’Brien. Under their leadership, SEKO grew from a niche forwarder to a global powerhouse with clients like Amazon, Shein, and Virgin Atlantic. David is now a co-founder of Logistics Labs, an investment firm supporting next-gen logistics and supply chain ventures. He also sits on multiple boards across the UK, US, and Hong Kong.
About Mark White:
Mark is a tech-driven CEO and private equity partner with more than 30 years of experience leading and scaling technology and logistics businesses. A serial entrepreneur, Mark has co-founded and exited six companies, including three software firms and three logistics ventures, with cumulative proceeds exceeding $750 million. He was instrumental in SEKO’s international expansion and has deep expertise in digital transformation, software product development, and complex M&A, having acquired or advised on over 30 transactions. He is currently involved in several technology ventures focused on sustainable returns, cross-border logistics, and automation.
Ticket cost: FREE for all event-inclusive membership types. If you’re unsure about your membership type please contact membership@helmclub.co
Cancellations:
We kindly ask that members only sign up for events that they are certain they can attend. If you’re unable to attend an event, please contact the Events Team at least 7 days in advance, or as soon as possible in case of an emergency. If an emergency does happen, please reach out to your contacts in the Helm network and offer your place to them.
Remember, cancelling an event or not showing up means that another member may miss out on a unique opportunity, as well as there being a financial cost to Helm for the venue hire and staff time.
Any questions please contact eventmanager@helmclub.co