Our leadership team
Neil Carberry
Chief Executive
Neil Carberry was appointed as Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation in June 2018. He began his career in recruitment in 1999, before doing a post-graduate degree in Human Resources at the London School of Economics and specialising in employment relations. Joining the CBI in 2004, he led the CBI’s work on the labour market, skills, energy and infrastructure. Neil spent a decade as a member of the council of the conciliation service ACAS and two terms as member of the Low Pay Commission, which recommends UK minimum wages. He was appointed an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List of 2025. Neil is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, a Fellow of the RSA and a member of the Company of HR Professionals. A seven-time nominee to the SIA staffing100 in Europe, Neil is also on the board and exec of the World Employment Confederation and of a Multi-Academy Trust in England. Neil is an RFU-qualified rugby referee and coach and is one of the 8000 co-owners who made Heart of Midlothian the UK’s biggest fan-owned football club.
Maxine Bligh
Chief Membership & Innovation Officer
Maxine took up the role of Chief Membership & Innovation Officer on the REC Executive in June 2023, taking responsibility for the organisation’s account management, sales, and member services.
Maxine joined the REC following more than 12 years at a business representation organisation where she held a range of roles, most recently as Commercial Director leading on membership proposition and services, events and commercial partnerships. Maxine also established two new business lines – a successful economics consultancy and a leadership programmes business. Prior to this Maxine was a consultant at SQW, specialising in regional economic regeneration.
Lorraine Laryea
Chief Standards Officer
Lorraine is a solicitor with a background in employment law who has been with the REC since 2008. Lorraine has worked in different roles, initially as a legal and commercial adviser delivering legal advice to members, and supporting both the compliance and policy functions at the REC. More recently, she managed the REC’s Legal Helpline function. Lorraine has developed a robust working knowledge of the legal and compliance issues that affect recruiters and is keen to support REC members to be compliant with industry legislation and best practice.
Liv Thompson
Chief Finance & Operations Officer
Liv Thompson (ACA) was appointed as Chief Finance & Operations Officer of the REC in November 2025. After graduating with a Mathematics degree, Liv started her career at the well renowned PwC London in 2014 whilst simultaneously playing Semi-Professional football for QPR, qualifying as an ACA Chartered Accountant in 2017.
Widely recognised as a high-performing, hands-on and commercially minded CFO, Liv has progressed rapidly through senior finance leadership roles. She draws on experience gained across a range of sectors and complex businesses, bringing a strong blend of technical expertise, commercial insight and operational leadership. At the REC, Liv has executive responsibility to lead the Finance, HR, IT and Facilities teams.
Adam Bolton
Director of Professional Pathways
Adam is a membership professional with over 20 years’ experience in sales and commercial roles as well as membership development and product and service delivery across a range of sectors. He has held a number of senior roles in professional bodies including the Institute of Directors, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Leadership and Management, and the Association of MBAs. Previously he has been both Account Director - South and Sales Director at the REC.
He holds the IoD Diploma in Company Direction and is a Fellow of the ILM. Outside work he is a keen musician, beekeeper and trustee of a community lead arts charity in Margate.
Shazia Ejaz
Director of Campaigns
Shazia came to the REC as a long-standing communications professional. Her experience in government comms as well as a range of business areas and political campaigns plays right into the comms and campaign work she informs as our Director of Campaigns.
She worked as part of the project team that developed the REC’s new brand and website and is keen to move the needle on key campaigns for REC members using research and other content to capture the attention of the media, government and other stakeholders.
Michael Kirchner
Sales Director
Michael joined the REC in 2018 as an Account Manager before becoming Key Account Manager South in 2021 and Sales Director in 2023. Prior to the REC, he has toured as an arts producer and director and worked in training and development.
Gemma Reyes
Director of Marketing & Digital
Gemma joined the REC in 2023 as Director of Marketing & Digital, leading brand, marketing, communications and digital strategy. She is responsible for driving growth, strengthening member engagement and delivering digital transformation that enhances the experience of members, customers and key stakeholders.
With more than 20 years’ experience spanning the recruitment industry and professional membership sector, Gemma has built a reputation for combining commercial acumen with customer-focused marketing leadership. She has led brand development, digital transformation and growth strategies throughout her career and is passionate about creating high-performing marketing functions that deliver measurable business impact.
