NEWS 26 EVENTS

New Fire Chief on the way for GMFRS

23 June 2009

Steve McGuirkOn behalf of Greater Manchester's Fire and Rescue Authority, the Chairman Cllr Paul Shannon, Vice-Chairman Cllr James Pearson and Deputy Chairman Cllr Jack Walton are pleased to announce that Steve McGuirk will be appointed as the next County Fire Officer and Chief Executive. Steve is currently the Chief Fire Officer of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Fire Authority Chairman Cllr Shannon has welcomed the appointment:

“We are delighted that Steve has accepted our offer to become our new County Fire Officer and Chief Executive. His appointment comes following a rigorous selection process, which included an assessment centre and formal interviews. Fire Authority Councillors look forward to working with Steve and all of our staff to prepare the Service for the future by continuing to modernise and improve everything we do."

Steve is will take up his new post in early Autumn, following the retirement of the current County Fire Officer Barry Dixon.

CFO Steve McGuirk said, “I started my career at Greater Manchester at the age of 16 so I am absolutely delighted and thrilled to be returning as County Fire Officer and Chief Executive.

“In doing so I would like to pay tribute to the excellent work carried out by Barry Dixon. He will be a really hard act to follow but I am looking forward to working with the new team and building on the excellent work and reputation which Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service already has.”

Editors` Notes:

  • Steve was appointed Chief Fire Officer of Cheshire in 1999, previously serving in GMC, Royal Berkshire and West Midlands.
  • Steve holds an MA, BA Honours and BSc in Fire Management.  He attended the “Top Managers” Programme in 2002, is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), and as a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) served on the International Council in the 1990s.
  • He was President of the Chief Fire Officers’ Association from 2007 to 2008 and has been a Board member for over seven years. 
  • He was awarded the Long Service Medal in 1996, the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in 2002, and CBE in 2005.