The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has announced Louise Hanson as its new chief executive. Current chief executive Neil Carberry will step down in September after eight years in the post to become chief executive of the CIPD. Hanson will join the REC later this year, and Maxine Bligh will take on the role of interim chief executive in the autumn. Hanson has worked in a number of membership and not-for-profit organisations, most recently the Law Society, where she is the executive director for membership and external affairs. REC chair-elect Bev White said Hanson joins at a “critical” time for the recruitment industry.