VOLKSWAGEN has merged and renamed its fleet operations to give fleets a single point of contact. The new Volkswagen Fleet Services department was launched in January and incorporates the fleet sales and after sales departments.

The aim is to give fleet customers the same level of service as retail customers get through the Volkswagen dealer network. Fleet marketing manager Sam Roach said: 'We are responding to what the industry wants by being able to talk to customers about all aspects of fleet and tailor a package for them. This will give us a better understanding of our customers and will save us having one person going into a company to talk about maintenance and then another person going in to talk about another issue.'

The new department also includes new managers to develop the 'ownership experience' and focus on the lifetime ownership of Volkswagens. Heading up the ownership section will be customer services manager Bob Hitchin, who will report to head of Volkswagen Fleet Services, Vince Kinner. Business development managers Nick Mitchell and Marianne Steel, who report to Hitchin, will be going out to investigate the fleet market and their findings will help to form extensions to the fleet operations in the future.