BMW'S global fleet chief Arthur Dalziel is to join GE Capital Fleet Services in succession to the retiring Geoff Becque as director of corporate communications. The move, which has been a closely guarded secret for more than a month, comes as the world's largest company embarks on its next wave of significant fleet expansion across the UK and Europe.

Dalziel, who for the past four years has been BMW's international corporate sales manager, based in Munich, joins GE Capital Fleet Services on July 1. There will be a three-month handover period before Becque, who joined the company following its acquisition of Leasecontracts in October 1995 where he was a founding director, retires. He will continue as a part-time strategic business development advisor to GE Capital Fleet Services throughout 1999.

Dalziel, who will be based at GE Capital Fleet Services' Wokingham office, will also be involved in communications activities across Europe. GE Capital Fleet Services, which has four member businesses - Avis Fleet Services, Leasecontracts, Cochranes Fleet Services and GE Capital Fleet Logistics - has a fleet of 90,000 vehicles in the UK, 300,000 in Europe and 920,000 worldwide.