East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
Achieving safer and more sustainable communities

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Corporate Management Team

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is managed by its board or Corporate Management Team (CMT) comprising of five Principal Officers and three directors. The team meet at least once a month to discuss strategic and policy issues and to monitor and determine service and financial plans into the future.

The members of the Corporate Management Team and the functions that report to them are shown below.

Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive - Des Prichard

CFO Des Prichard

It is the role of the Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive to deliver the strategic aims and objectives on behalf of the Fire Authority.

He is supported by a Corporate Management Team who deliver services to local communities, and the necessary support functions, through the following directorates:


As the Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive, he is also responsible for advising the Fire Authority on all operational matters, ensuring that the Service continues to meet its statutory obligations, through reducing risk, maintaining operational assurance and resilience, and providing value for money.

Service Delivery Directorate

Responsible Principal Officer : Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Gary Walsh

Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Gary Walsh

The Service Delivery Directorate (formerly Community Protection Directorate) has existed for a number of years and has expanded well beyond the remit originally envisaged with the increase in the following areas of; operational response and resilience, new dimensions, community and legislative fire safety, and emergency planning.

A Borough Command structure delivers a more locally focused service delivery arm of the Authority, however, the span of control of the Director of Service Delivery is widening and there are two Service Delivery functions of Operations, and Prevention and Protection, each headed by a Director.

Service Support Directorate

Responsible Principal Officer : Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Gary Ferrand

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Gary Ferrand

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer has the responsibility for Special Projects in particular the Firelink / FireControl Project and Accident Investigation as well as managing the HSE Action Plan and associated issues. The Service Support Directorate is responsible for: Health, Safety & Welfare, Engineering Services, Estates Management, Information Management and the Firelink and FiReControl projects.

Corporate Services Directorate

Responsible Principal Officer : Assistant Chief Officer, Diana Williams

Assistant Chief Officer, Diana William

The Corporate Services Directorate focuses on business planning, financial planning and governance, strategic procurement development and support and review of performance and quality within East Sussex Fire Authority.


People & Organisational Development Directorate

Responsible Principal Officer : Assistant Chief Officer, Cheryl Rolph

 Assistant Chief Officer, Cheryl Rolph

The People and organisational Development Directorate is responsible for the development of staff, focusing particularly on personal leadership, developing managerial capability and embedding of our core values into everything we do.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service are focusing on the areas of improvement needed that will enable us to achieve our vision of safer and more sustainable communities.


This page was last updated on Wednesday, 04-Jan-2012 14:53:47 GMT
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