VAUXHALL'S contract hire company MasterHire has announced a record year for contract hire sales, with 14,500 new vehicles delivered during 1999. The performance, 5% above expectations, was hailed by director Tony Williams as an example of the increasing move to contract hire among fleets.

The overall Vauxhall MasterHire fleet size remains at just below 40,000 vehicles. And Vauxhall is looking to boost its car and van contract hire and leasing business following the appointment of Darren Payne as UK contract hire and leasing manager. He replaces David Adcock, who left the company last year. Payne has been with Vauxhall almost five years, latterly as brand manager for light commercial vehicles and the Frontera range.

Prior to joining Vauxhall he had spells with PHH Vehicle Management and what was then known as Hertz Leasing. About 50% of Vauxhall's fleet sales come through the leasing sector and last year the Luton-based manufacturer saw its fleet sector share increase from just over 16% to fractionally over 18%.