With reference to your story ‘BAE Systems agrees RPO deal with Alexander Mann Solutions (recruiter.co.uk, 14 January), this is a very interesting and welcome development in the history of BAE’s relationship with recruitment agencies.

BAE has, over the years, tried to loosen the stranglehold of some of its core suppliers who charge huge rates. Firstly by setting up a managed agency underIan Seed (procurement director) under the Adecco group of companies.

Alexander Mann is breaking the mould and looking at the ability of the internet to re-fashion the ‘managed agency’ approach. Technology is
leading companies away from this and all companies need to think hard about their approach to delivering this service from today.

All the big companies are now looking to reduce their reliance on recruitment agencies. Master vendor is on its way out and about time too. It was always a crude blunt instrument, always stacked in the favour of the lead supplier when it should have been stacked in favour of the client.

I would like to say thank you to Alexander Mann for breaking the mould on this one. The ‘managed service’ is about as much use as an asthmatic ant carrying heavy shopping.

The reason why I am so passionate about this is I was one of the original Adecco team, and my MBA thesis was all about how 2nd tier suppliers should be managed on a corporate account. I am now running a small business in Staffordshire and would be very happy to support these new guys finding the staff for their talent pool.

• Rolfe Pearce, director,
  1stREC