Appointment of New Deputy Chief Fire Officer

We are pleased to share the appointment of Adam Openshaw as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer following a rigorous and competitive recruitment process.

Adam brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the role, he joined the Fire and Rescue Service in 2005. He is currently Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Director of Improvement at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, where he has led significant transformation efforts. Under his leadership, the Service achieved an improved rating and was removed from enhanced monitoring by HMICFRS following their reassessment in early 2025.

The interview panel included Chief Fire Officer Fin Monahan, Phil Garrigan, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, Commissioner Kirsty Williams, and Commissioner Carl Foulkes, who chaired the panel. Adam was the top-scoring candidate across both the staff and formal interview panels, impressing with his vision, leadership, and dedication to public service.

Carl Foulkes, Commissioner for the Service, and Chair of the Interview Panel said, “Adam’s career has seen him progress through a variety of operational and strategic roles, including Crew Manager, Watch Manager, Strategic Support Officer, Local Risk Manager for Cheltenham, Group Manager for Learning and Development, and Area Manager for Response and Resilience. His broad experience and commitment to service improvement were evident throughout the selection process.

“Adam will be relocating to the area and is expected to join the Service following the completion of his notice period at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

“We look forward to welcoming Adam and working together to continue delivering excellence in fire and rescue services to our communities.”

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