About Tom Proverbs-Garbett
Tom Proverbs-Garbett is a senior member of our environmental, social and governance (ESG) team, specialising in all aspects of governance. He has worked in professional services for over 15 years, including stints in industry. He has a particular interest in directors’ duties, board effectiveness/governance reviews, and subsidiary management. Tom writes a monthly one-page review of ESG matters for the attention of board members and their reports, providing an ‘at a glance’ summary of developments in this fast-paced area.
Tom’s approach is collaborative, and clients appreciate his thorough, user-friendly, yet polished approach. With post-graduate degrees in law, education, business, he gets to grips with difficult problems quickly and is solution-focussed.
Tom is a fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly ICSA), whose consultancy practice focusses on corporate governance matters and issues surrounding directors' duties.
Previously a senior associate at a top-20 law firm, Tom led its UK governance and company secretarial function. He works closely with our clients on their governance needs, including in the context of wider ESG matters. He provides training for boards, individual directors and their executive reports.
Tom publishes regularly on governance matters. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, a chartered manager and holds an MBA.
Asked about why he is passionate about his job, Tom says:
‘Governance is about making things work. There’s a misconception that it’s ‘nice to have’. That’s not the case. It’s about information flow, decision-making and contributing to change. That’s why I enjoy my job so much: helping clients of all sizes and in all sectors to make the best decisions they can. For all parts of society.’
Tom is a keen, although amateur, scribbler, with poems published in various books and magazines. A life-long learner and interested in self-development, Tom supports the wider team with learning and development. He’s also a keen tennis player.
Tom's RSM timeline:
- 2022: Joined RSM as Associate Director
Press and appearance highlights:
- Governance, issue 334 – Governance and climate change, June 2022
- Governance, issue 331 – Employee directors in the UK, March 2022
- Neural and Functional Diversity: The Future of Governance in George, K. (ed.) Governance 3.0, ACGP, 2021
- The Scotsman – Are ‘Worker Directors’ a Positive Development?, August 2020
- ICLG's Corporate Governance Laws and Regulations, Global Legal Group – Corporate Governance for Subsidiaries and Within Groups, 2020
- Lexis PSL – Introduction to Governance for In-house Lawyers, 2019
- Company Secretary’s Review, vol 38(15) – Mandatory Audit Tendering, 2014