Following a degree and masters in Sports Science at Loughborough University, Cath has worked in recruitment and talent management for 25(ish!) years. During that time she has led teams ranging from 50 – 1500 people across single countries and multiple continents, in the financial services, IT, telecoms, BPO, retail, logistics and defence sectors. Her leadership is characterised by a strong focus on purpose, collaboration, high standards and fun!
Cath joined Amazon in August 2021 and is currently Talent Acquisition Director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This involves overseeing the recruitment of around 70,000 people annually across 40+ countries.
Immediately prior to joining Amazon, Cath headed recruitment for the British Army for 3 years, leading the turnaround of what was a failing public / private sector partnership, delivering recruitment target achievement in 2 successive years. The outcomes secured positive press headlines, and praise from the UK National Audit Office for both the improvement in results and the collaborative nature of the partnership.
Cath is passionate about leadership and inclusion, and about driving closer ties between industry and the education sector in order to help young people into rewarding careers. In any spare time she enjoys playing cricket and hockey, skiing and cooking, and trying to keep one step ahead of her two teenage sons……!
What’s a professional achievement of yours from 2024 that you are proud of?
Leadership of large multinational team at Amazon through a period of significant change.
What is your prediction for the future of the TA industry?
Fewer recruiters, operating across the entire lifecycle, managing AI ‘agents’ and spending their time focused on human interactions that REALLY add value.
What projects are you planning on working on in 2026?
Shift to full lifecycle recruiters away from sourcer / BP split. Deployment of significant tech change (including AI). Greater standardisation across process. Resource and capacity optimisation across role types and geographies.