Trustees

Tony Rowe CBE, chairman

Tony Rowe CBE is the chief executive and chairman of Exeter Rugby Group Plc (Exeter Chiefs) and has other business interests across the South West. Under his guidance, the club has risen from a fourth division amateur outfit to the champions of the Gallagher Premiership. In 2006, the Chiefs made the move from the run-down County Ground in St Thomas to Sandy Park: a state-of-the-art stadium and conferencing centre based on the edge of the city.

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Michael Caines MBE, trustee

Michael Caines MBE, chef owner of Lympstone Manor, is one of Britain’s most celebrated and acclaimed chefs. In the past 25 years, he has earned a global reputation for his distinctive modern European cuisine utilising the finest local and regional produce and ingredients.

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Keiron Northcott, trustee

Keiron is currently the deputy chief executive of Exeter Chiefs. He joined Exeter Rugby Club when he was 16 and worked his way up through the sides to be a regular in the first XV. When he retired from rugby, he joined the committee running the rugby club and eventually became chairman. He has been the deputy chief executive of Chiefs since 2005.

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David Bird, trustee

David Bird is one of the most well-respected financiers in the region with more than 30 years of banking and corporate finance experience.

He leads the debt advisory team at Isca Ventures, with a focus on fundraising, refinancing and the provision of specialist debt finance. Prior to joining Isca Ventures, he held senior positions within the corporate teams at Santander, Clydesdale and Barclays.

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Marc Astley, trustee

Marc is an experienced journalist, writer, editor and media commentator with a wealth of contacts in the Exeter area.

He worked in the newspaper industry for 23 years during which time he was appointed chief reporter of the Leicester Mercury, assistant editor at the Hull Daily Mail, deputy editor at the Nottingham Evening Post and editor of the Exeter Express & Echo.

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Karime Hassan MBE, trustee

Karime Hassan, was awarded an MBE for services to local government in 2022. A town planner by profession, with more than 40 years’ experience working for local authorities. Between 2013 and 2023, he held the post of chief executive and growth director at Exeter City Council.

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