Trustees

Tony Rowe CBE, Chairman

Tony is currently the Chief Executive and has many business interests over the South West. Tony has many other commercial interests in Exeter but notably he is the Chief Executive and Chairman of Exeter Rugby Group Plc ( Exeter Chiefs), who over the last 25 years under his guidance have risen from a fourth division amateur outfit to the Champions of English Rugby Union, playing in England’s Aviva Premiership.

In 2006, the Chiefs made the move from the run-down County Ground at 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


"There’s a great saying in life that says “charity starts at home, for us home is Exeter & Devon”, so being involved with The Exeter Chiefs Foundation is a great honour and one that benefits the local area through charitable activities. Exeter Chiefs' success and impact on Exeter and the wider community of Devon has been massive and it’s our aim to ensure that this is success is felt by those that need our help the most, our local charities.” Michael Caines

Michael Caines MBE, Chef owner of Lympstone Manor, is one of Britain’s most celebrated and acclaimed chefs. Over the past 21 years he has earned a global reputation for his distinctive modern European cuisine utilising the finest local and regional produce and ingredients. Amongst numerous other accolades, Michael has cooked in 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister, received an MBE in 2006 for services to the hospitality industry and was awarded AA Chef's Chef of the Year in 2007.

Lympstone Manor is Michael Caines’ flagship hotel and restaurant overlooking the Exe Estuary in Devon, and forms part of the Michael Caines Collection alongside beachside restaurant and bar, The Cove at Maenporth and Mickeys Beach Bar and Restaurant in Exmouth and Café Patisserie Glacerie. Michael also invests much time in the Michael Caines Academy at Exeter College identifying the training of the next generation of hospitality stars.

Michael appears regularly on television including programs such as BBC One's Saturday Kitchen, Masterchef, Sunday Brunch and The Great British Menu.

In 2016, Michael was granted Freedom of the City of Exeter in recognition of his services to the city of Exeter and the wider community. He is the driving force behind the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink, a festival of national and international interest that celebrates the quality and variety of food and drink in southwest England and is the Chairman of the renowned and prestigious Trencherman’s guide and founder of the South West Chef annual competition. Michael also supports a number of charities both as Patron and through fundraising activities across his restaurants including Farms for City Children, The Exeter Chiefs Foundation, Devon Wildlife Trust, RNLI, Down Syndrome Association and the Calvert trust.

Keiron Northcott, Trustee

Keiron is currently the Deputy Chief Executive of the Exeter Chiefs as well as being a partner in his own Insurance Brokerage, Northcott Beaton Ltd. Working with his business partner Nick Beaton, the company is based in Sowton, Exeter and has been trading since 1990.

His role at the Chiefs and his passion for Rugby developed from an early age. Keiron was born in Exeter and attended Hele’s School where he first discovered his love of rugby. When he left school he went straight into the Insurance Industry in Exeter Working for Municipal Mutual Insurance.

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David Bird, Trustee

David Bird is the Head of Santander’s Business Banking team for the South West, helping people and businesses prosper.

He has well over 30 years experience in banking, covering a wide variety of roles across the UK, including lengthy spells in credit, commercial and corporate banking.

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Marc Astley, Trustee

Marc is the CEO of multi award-winning PR and Marketing agency Astley Media and founder of citizen journalism website The Exeter Daily. Before launching his agency, Marc was editor of the Express & Echo in Exeter for six years and a journalist for more than 20 years.

He has been a trustee since the Foundation was launched and also supports several other charities.

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