Olympian Alice Dearing Named Co-Vice Chair of British Esports
Former Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing has been appointed co-vice chair of British Esports, joining chair Andy Payne and co-vice chair Lord Vaizey on the federation’s leadership team.
British Esports has appointed former Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing as co-vice chair, adding her to a leadership team that includes chair Andy Payne and co-vice chair Lord Vaizey. The federation did not specify Dearing’s precise duties in its announcement.
The co-vice chair title places Dearing in a senior advisory position expected to involve strategic input, support for major decisions and review of plans for new programs or market expansion. At this level, responsibilities commonly include assessing proposals, recommending operational improvements and ensuring initiatives align with the federation’s mission to raise the profile and performance of British esports athletes and teams.
Dearing has served on the British Esports Advisory Board since September 2022. She has spoken at the federation’s Be The Change Summit about esports’ positive impact and the barriers some people and communities face when trying to enter less welcoming spaces. Her sporting background includes competing for Great Britain as an Olympic swimmer and retiring from elite competition ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.
Outside competitive sport, Dearing co-founded the Black Swimming Association and sits on the UK Anti-Doping Athlete Commission. Her appointment follows British Esports’ recent partnership with Loughborough University on shared esports projects and the federation’s investment in the British Arena, an entertainment and esports venue under construction and scheduled to open in summer 2026.
Dearing commented, “Gaming and esports has been such an important part of my life from an early age, and I am delighted to be able to play my part in the journey British Esports is on to gain greater recognition for British esports athletes and teams.” British Esports President Chester King welcomed the appointment, adding that the federation values Dearing’s elite sport experience and the perspective she brings on athlete support.
The announcement did not include an official start date for Dearing’s co-vice chair role or details on specific projects she will lead.
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