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South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced the appointment of Adam Openshaw as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer following a 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.
“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.
Carl Foulkes, Commissioner for the Service, and Chair of the Interview Panel.
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.
“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.”
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