ARC IT - Key Persons


Alexandra Gilliland

Job Titles:
  • Delivery Consultant
After returning to the UK from a 5-year stint teaching English in Hanoi, Vietnam, Alex realised that the hustle and bustle of London was no longer calling. She decided on a move to Brighton and joined the Arc family on Rebecca's team at the end of 2021. She is no stranger to recruitment having spent several years successfully recruiting talent in to the tech gaming industry prior to her travels.

James Haggar

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
James joined the ARC family only this year, however, within this short time, he has already secured a number of loyal business relationships. Coming from a retail and sales background, James is a very personable and approachable character, making him a trustworthy point of contact for our valued candidates and clients. James studied Computer Generated Imagery and obtained a Masters in Cyber Security Engineering at Southampton University and together with his passion for computer games, this gives James an interesting and knowledgeable tech and gaming background, often forming a bond with likeminded candidates. When James is not playing computer games, you can finding him taking a random road trip across the country with the wind in his hair! Or chilling with a good film at his home in sunny Bognor Regis. Back to Team Meet James Haggar Consultant

Katey Smith

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
Katey has been working in recruitment for 16 years. Prior to this she worked for an IT Support and Services company where she had many ‘hats' working in support, sales, office management and IT training. She joined the team at ARC in 2012 and has not looked back! Well only briefly… Now working as a Consultant she works on Marcus' team where there is never a quiet day! Learning to multi-task and juggling many balls are key aspects of the job. These skills are also required in her home life as she's mum to a teenager (say no more!) and a feisty but fabulous seven year old! Katey loves to spend her downtime going out for dinner, having a glass of wine (only one as she's a lightweight!) and catching up with friends and family. Back to Team Meet Katey Smith Consultant

Laura Hestley

Job Titles:
  • Delivery Consultant
After a childhood spent in the wilds of Suffolk, Laura moved to London after university where she accidentally fell into a career in recruitment. She worked initially as an in-house recruiter predominantly within the finance, sales and digital marketing sectors, recruiting for roles at all levels from office junior through to senior management. In 2014 Laura moved to Brighton and joined ARC IT where she works alongside Rebecca. Laura has a Master's degree in creative writing and, when not working, can often be found reading on the beach or frowning over the latest chapter of the novel she is writing. She has a very spoilt tabby cat called Manny, a goldfish called Kio-ora and the long-held ambition to own a herd of pigmy goats. Back to Team Meet Laura Hestley Delivery Consultant

Marcus Freeman

Job Titles:
  • Director
Marcus established ARC IT Recruitment in 2000 with a vision of creating a business that provides a high-quality, consultative approach to technology recruiting. With a business degree from Brighton University and over 25 years of experience in the tech recruitment industry, Marcus places great emphasis on the importance of connecting client business needs with the right solution. He has a great passion for building long-lasting relationships calling many esteemed clients dear friends. This drive and energy has seen ARC IT Recruitment successfully grow teams of highly dedicated Recruiters and team members who share the same ethos. Back to Team Meet Marcus Freeman Director

Michelle Hayward

Job Titles:
  • Office & Operations Manager
Originally from Orange County, California, Michelle joined the ARC IT family in early 2022 as the Office & Operations Manager. Before moving to the UK, Michelle spent 4 years in New York to follow her love of the big city lights and worked in the Investment Banking Industry. She has a broad background in administrative, finance and human resources with over 20 years' experience in various industries. Though the sunshine of California is now far behind her, Michelle enjoys life in the UK with her British husband and 2 sons, Jonah and Jude. When Michelle is not working at ARC, you will often find her curating various photoshoots and pursuing her passion for photography. She also enjoys spending time with her family, long swims in the sea and traveling as often as she can. Back to Team Meet Michelle Hayward Office & Operations Manager

Reagan Elliott

Job Titles:
  • Recruitment Co - Ordinator
Reagan is new to the recruitment industry, arriving at ARC IT in June 2022. Hailing from an administrative/support background with over 7 years' experience, working in various industries. From her hometown Milton Keynes where she began her working career, before moving to London in 2015 for 5 years to pursue other ventures where she was in a lead support role for Debenhams Head office. Moving to Brighton in 2020 where she worked a few different roles before landing at ARC IT where she resides as a Recruitment Co-Ordinator. Reagan has a strong interest in IT and is currently studying a degree part-time with The Open University. When she is not working, she enjoys socializing and attending festivals with her friends and long-weekends away with her husband and Husky called Raven. Back to Team Meet Reagan Elliott Recruitment Co-ordinator

Rebecca Collings

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
  • Executive
  • Recruiter
Rebecca is an accomplished Recruiter with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. After graduating from Queen Mary & Westfield University, ULU, she spent 8 years working for a highly reputed support agency before joining Arc IT Recruitment in 2008. Rebecca continues to be a hands-on Executive Consultant managing a magnificent all-female team of IT Recruiters. Her loyal and valued accounts range from investment banks and insurance companies to digital agencies and tech start-ups. Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family and friends, trips abroad, spinning, yoga, walks on the downs, paddleboarding and laughs over good wine and food. Her perfect evening however involves sofa, Netflix and Harper the Cavachon. Back to Team Meet Rebecca Collings Executive Consultant

Sylvia McCoy

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
  • Executive
Sylvia is an Executive Consultant and Headhunter here at ARC IT. A graduate of the University of Birmingham. she joined us in 2007 and only recently returned to the fold after a 6-year stint headhunting in Singapore. She brings a wealth of experience of international recruitment, specialising in the Tech and Digital sectors. A significant track record of working with start-ups, SME and corporate clients, her focus is on placing individuals in VP and Director positions, building out teams across Engineering, Architecture and Product. Back to Team Meet Sylvia McCoy Executive Consultant

Tina Portillo

Job Titles:
  • Accounts & Contracts Manager
Tina has been with ARC IT since 2015 as Accounts and Contracts Manager. Tina has been taking care of company accounts in both the public and private sectors for most of her working career so brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field. Tina is our contractor's first point of contact with regards to contracts, timesheets and payments and is always a helping held, particularly in the IR35 minefield! After a 14 year ‘stint' in sunny St Lucia where she enjoyed the delights and tribulations of working in the Caribbean, she returned to the UK and has worked with various companies striving to optimise their profitability and generally keep the wheels turning as smoothly as possible. Tina still has that Central and South American passion which comes out in her samba and salsa dance classes! She also enjoys improving her Spanish with the help of her Cuban husband. Back to Team Meet Tina Portillo Accounts & Contracts Manager

Toby Potter-Drake

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
Toby recently graduated from the University of the West of England with a 1st class honours degree in Business -Team Entrepreneurship. He first showed his passion for providing value to clients when he founded a digital marketing agency with a group of University friends and gradually built a strong client base with SME's in and around Bristol. Later in his degree course, he joined an Ed-tech start-up based in Canary Wharf, London, on an intern basis. The start-up's main focus was to build, market and run a system to help guide students towards their ideal career path. This sparked his interest in matching candidates with suitable roles and being a part of the candidate journey. Toby felt that recruitment was the natural career choice for him. He saw the IT field as a challenging, competitive and ever changing one with Arc as a very significant player. In his spare time Toby is a keen sportsperson who balances daily gym sessions with playing for two football teams and an active social life. Back to Team Meet Toby Potter-Drake Consultant