Outsourced service maintenance and repair (SMR) network management company Fleet Assist has appointed Vincent St Claire as its commercial director.

St Claire has almost 30 years fleet industry experience with some of the sector’s biggest companies and joins Cambridgeshire-based Fleet Assist, which provides management services through more than 7,000 service outlets to the UK contract hire and leasing industry.

The company celebrates its 10^th anniversary this year and has expanded to the extent that it has business partnerships with almost 30 contract hire and leasing companies collectively operating some 750,000 vehicles.

The Fleet Assist network delivers to contract hire and leasing companies a national network of aftersales providers without the cost and challenges of setting up and managing such an operation themselves.

Among the key benefits are pre-agreed terms and conditions, pricing and service standards with quality management and performance monitoring. There is also an optional technical authorisation team to validate all SMR work undertaken should clients wish to outsource the function.

St Claire said: “The net result is improved service delivery and purchasing terms for contract hire and leasing companies and increased business volumes with lower administration costs for the service agents.”

Additionally, Fleet Assist’s transaction data analysis enables it to quickly spot industry trends due to the volume of work undertaken enabling it to act as the ‘gatekeeper’ to keep vehicle leasing maintenance costs in check.

As commercial director, St Claire’s responsibilities include the on-going expansion and development of new products and services at the company whilst supporting and growing existing business streams.

St Claire said: “The Fleet Assist business is growing rapidly as we aim to help our customers - contract hire and leasing companies - reduce their maintenance and back office costs by using our nationwide managed network of agents, analysing where savings can be made and then implementing a wide variety of projects.

“In addition to the recent launch of Driver Services and most recently technical authorisation to our product portfolio, Fleet Assist also plans to develop and launch further new products and services that will benefit customers.”

During a near 30-year fleet industry career, St Claire was most recently managing director for four years of fleet services provider Alliance Asset Management. Previously he has held senior posts with a number of major fleet organisations including the AA where he was commercial director of rental services, easyCar (International) and (UK) Ltd, and fleet management company Arval.

Fleet Assist was founded in 2003 by Mike Smith and Simon English, who between them have more than 50 years fleet industry experience.

English, joint managing director with Smith, said: “Vincent brings a vast amount of fleet industry knowledge and experience to Fleet Assist. We are proud of our achievements in the company’s first decade, but have no intention of resting on our laurels. Vincent’s appointment means we have now taken the next step to further develop and expand the business.”