Chief Fire Officer Mark Jones has stepped down from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service with immediate effect by mutual agreement. Mr Jones said that he has been affected by injuries and wished to take time to concentrate on his well-being and make a full recovery.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold has thanked Mark for his service and wished him well for the future.
Nicci Marzec, who is currently Monitoring Officer and Head of Paid Staff at the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, will take over as Interim Chief Officer. Nicci will be supported by incoming Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill, who joins the Service on July 18.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said that the interim arrangement will give DCFO Simon Tuhill time to settle into Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and will be regularly reviewed.
Nicci Marzec and Simon Tuhill will be supported by the existing team of Assistant Chief Fire Officers Rob Porter and Phil Pells, who have considerable operational experience, and Assistant Chief Officer Paul Bullen, who leads the Enabling Services teams.
Nicci Marzec has extensive senior management experience at strategic and operational levels across a range of professional fields. Nicci is currently Head of Paid Service for the OPFCC and Monitoring Officer for the OPFCC and NFRS and has previously held a range of senior management roles in local authorities, in the third sector and in consultancy roles. Nicci has experience of leading and managing organisations and change programmes.
Nicci has also worked extensively across community safety, leading the Community Safety Partnership in Northampton for many years, setting up and managing a partnership hub and working with Emergency Service colleagues on a range of targeted and preventative activities to improve community safety.
Nicci said: “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service at such an important and challenging time. I know that all the firefighters and staff are committed to making Northamptonshire a safer county and I am impressed by the hard work and dedication they show every day.
“I’m looking forward to working with the Chief Fire Officer Team and with our partners to find new ways to make our fire service fit for the future, to extend collaboration and joint working and to support the changes to our culture that we need to make.”
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold thanked Mark Jones for his service and said: “I am pleased Nicci Marzec will act as Interim Chief Officer and I know that she will be very well supported by the talented team at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. I look forward to working with them on the priorities in my Police, Fire and Crime Plan.”
