Andy Roe is a British leadership figure and former Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, celebrated for guiding one of the world’s largest emergency services through a critical period of transformation following Grenfell Tower. Appointed in 2020, he led a workforce of over 6,300 and managed a budget exceeding £510 million, inspiring across high-stakes environments.
Raised in London, Andy earned a BA in English Literature from Newcastle University and trained at Sandhurst before becoming a Captain in the Royal Artillery. His military tenure included commanding roles and service in Northern Ireland, laying a foundation of resilience and crisis leadership that he later applied to firefighting and public service.
Joining the London Fire Brigade in 2002 as a firefighter, Andy climbed through roles to become Assistant Commissioner in 2017 and Commissioner in 2020. Under his tenure, LFB transformed from special measures into one of the UK's most improved services, earning praise from national inspection authorities. He led cultural reform, commissioning an independent review to tackle long-standing issues of racism and misogyny, embedding equity and inclusion into the organisation’s core.
Andy has been recognised for his service with prestigious honours, including the King’s Fire Service Medal in the 2024 New Year Honours, along with campaign and commemorative medals recognising long-standing service and national duty. After retiring from the Brigade in June 2025, he became non-executive chair of a shadow board for the Building Safety Regulator and continues to influence national security policy, higher education innovation, and organisational culture reform.
Andy Roe's official speaking topics are listed below:
Change and Transformation
When Andy Roe became LFB Commissioner in 2020, he inherited an organisation resistant to change, deeply affected by the Grenfell Tower Tragedy and placed under special measures. Drawing on a lifetime’s experience of working in high-risk and dynamic environments, Andy looks at the challenges faced, and the process involved in devising a credible plan that a workforce, political leaders, media and regulatory stakeholders buy into. He also explores strategies to overcome internal and external resistance and drive lasting change, even under intense pressure.
Risk and Consequence
As commander at some of the UK’s most high-profile and tragically consequential major incidents, Andy has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact when risk management fails. With unparalleled frontline experience, he is uniquely positioned to examine risk management through the lens of real-world outcomes. He also explores how organisations can better anticipate failure, respond effectively under pressure, and build systems that prevent future crises. He also looks at why and how, in an age of advanced technology, systems can never entirely remove the need for human judgment, adaptability and leadership.
Leading a high-performing team
As CEO of one of the largest Emergency Rescue Services in the world, Andy led more than 6,300 staff across 103 Fire Stations and managed an annual budget of over £510 million. Successfully transforming a service under scrutiny, through strategic changes in governance, financial management and culture, Andy demonstrates the vital importance of resilience, clear and effective communication, and a balanced approach to reward and accountability, in building, leading and sustaining high-performance teams. He also offers valuable insights for leaders navigating complex, high-pressure environments.
- 2025 – Appointed non-executive chair of the Building Safety Regulator’s shadow board; retired as LFB Commissioner
- 2024 – Awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal (KFSM) in the New Year Honours
- 2020–2025 – Commissioner, London Fire Brigade, led major transformation post-Grenfell
- 2017–2020 – Assistant Commissioner, London Fire Brigade
- Military service – Commissioned officer in Royal Artillery, served in Northern Ireland, reached rank of Captain
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