Former REC chief Marcia Roberts passes away
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Marcia Roberts (right) receives her award for Outstanding Contribution to Recruitment in 2009
Marcia Roberts MBE, former chief executive of the REC, has died following a long illness.
Roberts, who was honoured with Recruiter’s Individual Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to Recruitment in 2009, served at the REC from 2000 to 2007. She started her tenure at the REC in the role of director of external relations. She later took on the role of deputy chief executive officer and subsequently the role of CEO.
She was awarded her MBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List for her tireless work on behalf of the recruitment industry and championing diversity. In an REC statement, Roberts was described as “a strong advocate of the recruitment industry and its ability to positively change people’s lives”.
Tributes to Roberts began pouring in Tuesday morning after news of her death was revealed.
REC chair Angela Masters said in a prepared statement: “Marcia was a champion of our industry, a great leader and an inspiration to members and the staff at the REC. I enjoyed her company and came to consider her a good friend.”
Former REC chair Gary Irvine added: “It was a pleasure to work closely with Marcia during my time as chair of the REC. As well as her drive and vision, she will also be remembered for her empathy and kindness.”
Recruiter editor DeeDee Doke said: “Marcia was a strong and highly capable leader who set the highest standards for the recruitment industry – and for herself. She believed that recruitment was a profession and an industry that deserved respect, and she was driven to guide the rest of the business world into sharing that vision. Her death is a profound loss to UK recruitment.”
The REC statement went on to say, “At a later date, the REC will find an appropriate way of celebrating Marcia’s life. Our thoughts at this time are with Marcia’s family.”
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Readers' comments (18)
Dawn Whybrow | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:34 pm
Marcia was a true leader and champion of our industry - she will be sadly missed. She was a person that you could look up to and certainly gained the respect of all who came in contact with her.
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Cameron Kay | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:34 pm
Very sad news for the industry.
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Stuart Wilkinson | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:40 pm
Such sad news, a recruitment industry champion!
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Lindsay Dalton | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:41 pm
Very sad news for her family and the industry. I'm sure her memory will live on and Kevin will continue to do us and her proud with his continual work for REC.
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Sandra Shepherd FREC Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:46 pm
The First Lady of Recruitment in my opinion. She was a delight to work with and know. We had the pleasure of working with her during her time with the REC, what a sad loss to the industry. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.
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Darren Revell | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:52 pm
I had the chance to work with Marcia from 2000-2004 when I ran my training company. Marcia had a great recruitment mind and was a huge supporter of my work. Always generous with her time and advice it was a privilege to have know her. Rest in peace, my respects to Marcia's family. Darren Revell
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Joan Sim | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:56 pm
Extremely sorry to hear the news today about Marcia. In my 35 years experience within the industry and having met her on a number of occasions I would say that Marcia always shone as a true professional. Her dedication and experience will surely be missed.
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Naveed Ahmed | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 1:07 pm
It is with great regret we read this news. We had a pleasure of Marcia's company at the official opening of our Slough branch.
Our deepest condolences to her family and friends
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Jeanette Robinson | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 1:10 pm
I shall remember Marcia for her great intelligence, her advice and encouragement, her sense of fun and caring nature. I shall remember the many times Kim Marie Freestone and myself spent in her company. In particular, the very rainy weekend we spent in Mallorca when I broke my foot and she helped me get home in a wheelchair. I shall remember texting each other when Man Utd were playing Chelsea and arguing about whether her team would win or mine. I shall remember her great knowledge of handbags - there was nothing she didn't know about them.
She was a very dear friend. I shall miss her terribly and she has been a great loss to the recruitment industry.
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Dave Pye | Tue, 2 Feb 2010 1:26 pm
In a hugely influencial sector we have not had too many giants. Marcia was one of those. A hugely impressive leader and a fighter for our recruitment industry. Marcia fully deserved her recognition last year at the Recruiter Awards and will be sorely missed by those who had the honour of working with her and who came into contact with her during her time with the REC.
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