Humanists UK mourns longstanding member and supporter, Sir Alec Reed (1934-2025)

Humanists UK is deeply saddened to learn of the death of its life member Sir Alec Reed, aged 91.

A pioneering entrepreneur and visionary philanthropist, Sir Alec was a lifelong humanist who dedicated much of his wealth and influence to supporting social change and charitable causes. As the founder of Reed Executive and the Reed Foundation, he revolutionised the recruitment industry and later transformed the landscape of charitable giving through the Big Give platform, securing millions for those in need. A life member of Humanists UK, Reed’s humanist ideals of integrity, responsibility, and kindness were at the heart of his ‘logical view of life’.

Born on 16 February 1934, Sir Alec’s career was defined by a commitment to rational thinking and kindness. He founded his first recruitment office in Hounslow in 1960 with just £75, eventually growing it into one of the largest private companies in the UK. For Sir Alec, business was an opportunity to ‘improve the lives of others’, and he believed that commercial success should be used to support a better society.

His philanthropy was as innovative as his business ventures. In 1972, he established the Reed Foundation, which became a significant shareholder in the family business, making sure that a portion of the company’s profits would always be directed toward charity. In 2007, he launched the Big Give, a match-funding platform that has since raised hundreds of millions of pounds for thousands of different causes. In 2011, he was knighted for services to business and charity.

Reed’s upbringing had not been religious, but in his early 20s he was briefly drawn towards Christianity, becoming friends with Alpha Course founder Sandy Miller. Ultimately, though, he found his home in humanism, becoming a life member of the British Humanist Association (now Humanists UK).

Reflecting on his philosophy in his autobiography published in 2011, he noted:

‘Over the years my faith in any one God has diminished, but my desire to help others has not. I am now a paid-up member of the British Humanist Association… In a nutshell, humanists believe that if we all lead honest, generous lives and try to help each other, everyone will be much happier. It fits with my logical view of life.’

Sir Alec’s commitment to humanism was not just theoretical; it was lived. He was a regular supporter of Humanists UK campaigns and events, always championing the charity’s goal of creating a kinder and more tolerant world. He was particularly concerned at the growth of state-funded religious schools, which he believed would have a pernicious effect on social cohesion.

Alec Reed died on 2 December 2025, survived by his wife of 64 years, his children, 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Writing on the website of The Big Give, Reed’s son James said his father had told him in his final days that ‘he felt lucky, had a good life and was ready to go’.

Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said:

‘Alec was a remarkable man whose life was a testament to the power of humanist values in action. Through his extraordinary philanthropy and business leadership, he proved that one can be both highly successful and deeply compassionate. His legacy through the Big Give will continue to improve lives for decades to come. Everyone at Humanists UK will miss his support, his much valued advice, and his blue-sky thinking phone calls which helped shape so much of our work.’