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West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has confirmed two new appointments to its senior leadership team as the service prepares for devolution.
Sabrina Pennington-Down has become the service’s first non-operational Assistant Director. Having spent many years leading on organisational assurance and governance, she will now take on responsibility for strategy, improvement and assurance.
She is joined by Andy Piller, who steps up as Assistant Chief Fire Officer. Andy joined the service as a Group Manager in 2020 and has since served as Area Manager for Service Delivery.
Together, they will work alongside Interim Chief Fire Officer Gary Ball, who took up post in June, to lead the service through the next stage of its development.
“I am delighted to be working alongside Sabrina and Andy. They both bring a wealth of skills and experience to our senior leadership team which will stand us in good stead to lead the service through this exciting period.
“As our first ever non-operational director, Sabrina has been at the forefront of the service’s improvement programme for many years. I am confident she will offer a unique perspective on us as a service, while recognising all the work delivered by our non-operational colleagues that often goes on behind the scenes.
“Andy has a real passion for the service and the drive to take on this role to position the service in the best possible place. I know he will bring a fresh outlook to the role and will be an asset to our senior leadership team.”
Gary Ball, Interim Chief Fire Officer.
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