Cumbria County Council has appointed Dominic Harrison as the authority's new Corporate Director of Public Protection.
Mr Harrison, who has served as the county’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer since 2005, will assume the role of Chief Fire Officer as well as taking on responsibilities for the county’s Trading Standards, Emergency Planning and Community Safety. He succeeds Bernard Dolan who retired at the end of March 2007.
The new Director arrived in Cumbria from Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service where he was responsible for human resource issues.
Mr Harrison’s career background includes experience working in station command on the Fylde Coast; group management in North Lancashire and area management for Preston and Central Lancashire. He is also the former Head of Safety for the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.
Commenting, Dominic Harrison said: “I am very pleased and excited about the appointment.
"I am looking forward to the challenge ahead, including driving forward Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service’s journey of modernisation which was so ably led by Bernard Dolan. That modernisation is already beginning to pay dividends with fewer people injured in property fires in recent years."
Councillor Tim Stoddard, leader of Cumbria County Council, said: "We were extremely impressed with Dominic's commitment to helping improve safety and quality of life for Cumbrians and are delighted that he is taking on this important job."
Councillor Elizabeth Barraclough, cabinet member responsible for Safe and Secure Communities, said: “Dominic brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He already has a proven track record of delivering real improvements on the issues that matter to people across Cumbria.”
Mr Harrison has an engineering honours degree from the University of Central Lancashire and is registered as a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council. He also has a Master of Arts in management from the University of Coventry.
He and his partner Sue have five children aged between 16 and 22.
Dominic is 44 and is a rugby union referee for the Lakeland Referees Society. He has played both rugby league (Heysham) and rugby union (Vale of Lune).