The British business and philanthropic community is mourning the loss of Sir Alec Reed, the visionary founder of the Reed employment agency and a transformative figure in modern charity fundraising. He has died at the age of 91.
From Office Boy to Business Titan
Born Alec Edward Reed in Hounslow, west London, on 16 February 1934, his journey to business success was unconventional. The son of a lithographer, he failed his 11-plus exam and was described in an early school report as "lazy, inattentive". After leaving school at 16 and completing national service in the Royal Engineers, he qualified as a company secretary.
His big break came while working as a trainee accountant at Gillette. Noticing the high fees charged by recruitment agencies, he used £75 from his pension savings to found his own agency in Hounslow in 1960. Capitalising on the growth around Heathrow Airport, Reed Employment rapidly expanded, boasting 75 branches by 1969 and floating on the stock market in 1971.
Redefining Philanthropy: The Big Give Legacy
While building a business empire, Sir Alec concurrently constructed a profound philanthropic legacy. His guiding philosophy was encapsulated in a statement made upon his knighthood in 2011 for services to business and charity: "Without business there would be no charity – but without charity, what’s the point of business?"
His first charitable venture was the Addicts Rehabilitation Charity (ARC), established after he volunteered to help drug addicts. This was followed by numerous initiatives including Reed Restart for female prisoners, Womankind Worldwide, and Ethiopiaid, which he founded with a £1m personal donation in 1989 and which has since donated £28m.
His most revolutionary creation was The Big Give. Launched to connect wealthy donors with causes, it flipped the traditional charity model on its head. Its flagship Christmas Challenge, using a match-funding model, raised a record £44.7m in 2024, surpassing well-established appeals like Children in Need. The organisation aims to raise £1bn by 2030.
He funded his philanthropy through the Reed Foundation, which holds an 18% stake in the Reed Group and had assets exceeding £25m in 2023. He often joked that Reed employees worked one day a week for charity.
A Life of Ideas and Family
Sir Alec was a prolific ideas man. In 1995, he spearheaded the launch of the UK's first recruitment website, rewarding the trainee who suggested the idea with £100,000. He handed the CEO role to his son James in 1997 but remained involved.
His passions extended to education and the arts. He was instrumental in establishing the West London academy, later renamed the Alec Reed Academy, and founded the Reed Business School. A supporter of the Royal Ballet and an amateur portrait painter, he credited his wife, Adrianne, whom he married in 1961, for encouraging his artistic interests.
Sir Alec Reed is survived by his wife, their three children – James, Richard, and Alexandra – 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He wished to be remembered as "someone who laughed a lot and attempted to improve the lives of others," a description that encompasses his monumental dual legacy in both commerce and compassion.
