National Student Esports appoints Tom Dore as Managing Director

National Student Esports has appointed Tom Dore as Managing Director, marking the next stage in its partnership with British Esports as the organizations deepen alignment across student and grassroots esports.

National Student Esports has appointed Tom Dore as its new managing director, succeeding Alex Coulson, as the organization moves into a new phase of collaboration with British Esports Federation.

The appointment follows the recently announced partnership between NSE, British Esports, and Esports Global, which aims to consolidate parts of the UK student esports landscape and strengthen links between education, competition, and industry. The change in leadership signals a closer operational alignment between student and grassroots esports initiatives.

NSE is the official body for university esports in the UK and operates the British University Esports Championship, while British Esports serves as the national body responsible for esports development, education, and standards.

Leadership change follows expanded partnership

Dore joins NSE on secondment from British Esports and will retain a voluntary role at the federation to support coordination between the two organizations. His appointment comes as the partnership with Esports Global brings together two major student esports providers to create a larger connected ecosystem focused on participation, attendance, and skills development.

The organizations say the move reflects a shared approach to building sustainable esports pathways across education, with a stronger link between student competition and wider grassroots activity.

Role focuses on student competition and skills development

In his new role, Dore will oversee the continued development of NSE’s work supporting university-level esports, including the British University Esports Championship, while strengthening relationships across education, industry, and community stakeholders.

He takes over from Alex Coulson, who led NSE for five years and will continue to support the organization in a consultancy capacity focused on commercial strategy and partnerships.

“I would like to thank Alex for his leadership and contribution to NSE,” Dore says. “Under his guidance, NSE has grown significantly over the last 5 years, expanding participation and delivering high-quality competitive and community experiences for students nationwide.”

Dore adds that Coulson’s continued involvement provides continuity as the organization enters its next phase, “I am very pleased he will still be supporting us in a consultancy role with a focus on commercial strategy and partnerships.”

Secondment reflects closer alignment between organizations

Dore has been part of British Esports since 2017, where he has worked across education, government, and industry partnerships in support of esports development in the UK. His secondment to NSE is positioned as a structural step in the evolving relationship between the two organizations.

“Moving forwards, I am excited to work with the team to build on their existing success and lead NSE on the next stage of its development, working with a range of brands and industry stakeholders to create even more opportunities for students to meet, play and compete,” Dore adds.