The Chief Fire Officer, Andrew Brodie, has given North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner notice that he intends to retire from the fire service later this year.
Mr Brodie, who has been in the role leading North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service since January 2019, is to move away from the area to take up a business opportunity beyond the fire service.
He will remain in post until the end of the summer’
With the forthcoming elections for a new North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner taking place on Thursday 6 May, and a new Commissioner beginning their term on Thursday 13 May, the recruitment process for a new Chief Fire Officer will not begin until after that date.
Andrew Brodie, North Yorkshire Chief Fire Officer, said:
“Leading North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is an immense privilege but, after 31 years working within and supporting the fire service across the country, I have an opportunity to take up a new challenge elsewhere in the UK in a completely different line of work which I am keen to pursue.
“Although today announces my intention to retire in the summer, there will be no let up from me in the priorities which have driven my time as Chief Fire Officer in North Yorkshire.
“We have achieved a huge amount but there is much more to do to ensure we are an innovative, financially sustainable and collaborative organisation which works to protect North Yorkshire and York every day.
“I am particularly proud of the way we are increasingly working alongside our partners in North Yorkshire Police with who we share a joint mission with aligned priorities. From the pilot of Public Safety Officers in Craven to locating more of our teams together at the heart of the communities, our job is to keep people safe and feeling safe, and I look forward to continuing to work closely on that with Chief Constable Lisa Winward, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and their teams.”
Andrew Brodie was also very keen to recruit firefighters from many different backgrounds as he explained to David Dunning in 2019 at York Pride
Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:
“Andrew has been, and continues to be, an outstanding Chief Fire Officer for North Yorkshire and I wish him well for the future. He has led the organisation through a challenging time, and I know firefighters and staff value his passion, dedication and understanding of the Fire Service, their roles and the future.
“We have made huge progress since I took over the governance of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. From establishing a joint headquarters saving £1m a year, to much greater collaboration on shared vision and values, to setting up Enable North Yorkshire to avoid duplication of back office roles and improve the support given to both organisations.