The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) chair, Angela Masters (left), has stepped down from her post.

The REC says the Council will vote to appoint its next permanent chair at its first full Council Meeting of 2011 on 23 March, while vice chair and chief executive of Adecco UK & Ireland, Peter Searle, will be acting chair until then.

The REC adds that as a result of a misunderstanding, there was a discrepancy over Masters’ official starting date as chair. Discussions between Masters and the Council concluded the best course of action would be for her to stand down immediately so that proceedings for appointing a new chair could begin.

Masters said of her time as REC chair: “It has been a privilege to chair the recruitment industry’s largest trade association. I have worked alongside some wonderfully talented people on the REC Council, all of whom give up their own time to help raise standards and improve the environment in which we all operate

“I want to thank the management and staff at the REC; they work tirelessly on our members’ behalf and as an industry we should appreciate their efforts more than we do.

“I will bring my 23-year involvement with our trade body to an end at the AGM in June. Until then I will continue to push for whatever is in the best interests of our members.”

Jeff Brooks, REC vice chairman and director of Primesourcing, praised Masters: “She has done an excellent job of leading the REC during our industry’s toughest times. Her quiet and pragmatic leadership has helped the REC improve everything it does on behalf of all its members.”

Neil Smith, chairman of the REC’s finance committee and managing director of Kinetic, added: “She always gives 100% to the REC. Her passion and enthusiasm for the work that the organisation does is unsurpassed.”

Marshall Evans, chairman of the REC’s policy committee and operations director of Staffline, said: “I have seen Angela really move the REC on since I joined the Council. She was a fantastic linchpin between the Council, our members and the excellent staff team. She will be missed.”

Acting chair Searle added: “Angela is a voice of common sense and someone who championed not just the smaller agencies but the whole industry. She has a wonderful sense of humour and it was a pleasure to work alongside her.”

Kevin Green, the REC’s CEO, says: “What can I say about Angela? She was one of the major reasons why I joined the REC. She knew exactly what needed to happen to get the REC to the next level in its development and her passion was infectious. She always took the time to come to our staff gatherings so our people knew their hard work was appreciated. She brought a great sense of fun and energy to the REC Council while ensuring business was always dealt with.”