The vote was carried through at the REC’s AGM on 22 June. Mellor will succeed current chair Sarah Thewlis, whose term ends in October.

Mellor has been a non-executive director and council member of the REC since 2017. A former chef, her company Cummins Mellor has been an REC member for more than 30 years. 

Mellor said: “The REC is all about its members who play an incredibly crucial role in the UK economy, in people’s careers and in business. I look to championing the work our members do every day and to also elevate equity, inclusivity and connectivity in the recruitment industry because if your people are growing and thriving then so is your organisation.”

Thewlis, current REC chair and managing director at Thewlis Graham Associates, said Mellor’s election as chair is “a moment to celebrate… I have witnessed at first hand her passion, thoughtfulness and integrity. The board will be in great hands when she takes over in October”.

Neil Carberry, REC CEO, said: “Michelle’s extensive experience of recruitment, her entrepreneurialism and energy have been a huge asset to our organisation over her years on the council and board, and I look forward to this continuing. A good chair is a huge asset to any organisation, and we have been well served in this regard by Sarah over the past three years. I look forward to building on this in partnership with Michelle over the next three years.”

Commenting on the REC’s performance in 2022, Carberry added: “The REC saw strong revenue growth in 2022, based on additional services offered to members as they grew their businesses in what was a robust year for our sector. As members would expect, we put all of this additional income into member-focused services. Building on this, the REC has had a strong start to 2023 and we look forward to moving into our new home next month, which will offer a better working environment for our team, and better value for members.”

The role of the REC board is to ensure that the REC is governed effectively, maintaining high standards of compliance and always in the interest of the members of the organisation. They also act as a key forum for challenge and discussion for the REC’s executive leadership team. The chair is responsible for the effective operation of the board, line management of the CEO and acting as an ambassador for the organisation with members and stakeholders.

Mellor’s term as chair is three years until October 2026. She is a trained NLP Practitioner and ILM level 7 executive coach and mentor. She is a fellow of the CMI.

The REC board has 11 members, including a majority of elected REC members, with six seats, and four independent non-executive directors appointed to bring in different skills and support the REC to better serve recruiters. The CEO is also a member of the board.

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