FLEET Cost Management has begun shedding senior staff following its takeover by PHH Vehicle Management Services' parent company HFS Inc, which also bought Overdrive and Dialcard fuel card business and accident management organisation Automanagement. Last week the Department of Trade and Industry gave the go-ahead for the acquisition after a call for it to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission because the deal would give PHH a virtual monopoly of the multi-brand fuel card market was refused.

The first casualties of the mega-merger were confirmed when FCM managing director Jeremy Snowden left to return to Evans Halshaw and finance director George Smith took 'gardening leave'. Snowden replaces former Evans Halshaw commercial director Mike Bowe and will oversee both Car Fleet Control and the contract hire operation Fleetcare through Greg Connell and Ken Trinder.

FCM's former executive director of sales John Britcliffe is promoted to managing director and Martin Hender, general manager of Harpur UK - former parent company of FCM and the other acquired businesses - moves up to a similar role at the fuelcard operation.