Tom Tainton

Tom Tainton is CEO of Bristol Bears Rugby Club, where he leads commercial strategy, brand development, and organisational culture across both the Men's and Women's programmes. Under his leadership, the Bears have built one of the most commercially progressive clubs in English rugby — combining on-pitch ambition with genuine community impact through the Bristol Bears Foundation, where Tom serves as Trustee.

A global operator with experience across Hong Kong, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the United States, Tom brings a rare combination of international perspective and deep sporting expertise to questions of leadership and organisational change.

He is the co-founder of Burra, an Antipodean coffee brand with three sites in Bristol, and the author of The Culture Club: A Study In Establishing Organisational Success.