The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has announced that its chief executive Marcia Roberts (pictured) has stood down from the post because of a serious illness.

Roberts joined the REC almost seven years ago as its director of external relations. She won promotion to deputy chief executive, and was appointed as CEO in September last year, succeeding Gareth Osbourne.

Helen Reynolds, executive director of Recruitment Industry Taskforce for Enterprise (RITE), has been appointed acting chief executive.