CFO Paul Walker 180The Chief Executive of Cornwall Council has announced that Paul Walker has been appointed as the new Chief Fire Officer for the Cornwall Fire, Rescue and Community Safety Service.

Andrew Kerr said: “Paul took up the Chief Fire Officer role from 01 January 2015 on an interim basis whilst we undertook a national selection process for a substantive appointment. Paul has shown himself to be an outstanding candidate with vision and excellent self-awareness.”

Further reading: UK’s first Tri-Service Safety Officer appointed in Cornwall

CFO Walker joined Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service in September 2009 as Deputy Chief Fire Officer. This appointment followed 20 years operational and managerial experience in Somerset County Fire Brigade, London Fire Brigade and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

On his appointed CFO Walker said “I am delighted and very proud to be appointed as the Chief Fire Officer and Head of the Community Safety Service. I look forward to leading this fantastic service over the coming years to ensure we continue to maintain and develop our wide reaching community safety prevention and intervention services for residents, businesses and visitors across Cornwall.”

Over the past five years CFO Walker has led many change and improvement projects supporting the Service in gaining sector and partner recognition as a high performing service that embraces and delivers wide reaching and varied community safety prevention and response services across Cornwall.

Chief Executive Kerr concluded: “I know that Paul is looking forward to leading the service to ensure we continue to maintain and develop our wide reaching community safety prevention and intervention services for residents, businesses and visitors across Cornwall.”

CFO Walker will officially commence his role on 2nd June 2015.