THE former chief constable of Gwent police has been appointed interim chairman of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

Mick Giannasi has been appointed to the role until March 31 next year and replaces Stuart Fletcher who will stand down on August 31.

Mr Giannasi retired from the police service in April 2011 after a distinguished career spanning 31 years.

During that time, he served in three police forces and ultimately attained the rank of chief constable at Gwent and was awarded the Queen’s police medal for his contribution to policing in the 2011 birthday honours.

Mr Giannasi began his police career in Staffordshire in 1980 where he served in a variety of uniformed and specialist roles up to and including the rank of chief superintendent.

In 2002, he was appointed assistant chief constable in Merseyside where he was responsible for specialist operations and gained significant experience in dealing with gang related violence, drug trafficking, gun crime and counter terrorist operations.

He transferred to Gwent Police in 2005 as deputy chief constable and was appointed chief constable in 2008.

As the chief constable of Gwent, Mr. Giannasi was responsible for control of the force, and accountable for a budget of £122m and a workforce of more than 2,500 people.

Following his retirement from the police service, he was appointed by the Welsh Government to act as a commissioner for the Isle of Anglesey council. He carried out this role until May 2013, when the Government’s intervention in the council’s affairs was brought to a successful conclusion.

Health minister, Mark Drakeford said: ““I am extremely grateful to Stuart for his dedication and commitment to the NHS in Wales and would like to wish him all the best for his retirement.

“Mick’s experience will help us to lead the organisation through a period of very significant change, including full implementation of the output of the McClelland review”.

Mr Giannasi has been appointed until 31 March 2014 and will receive a pay of £59,760 per annum for a time commitment of 15 days a month.