HONEYWELL Control System's fleet manager Eddie West has taken early retirement after 30 years with the company and now has his sights set on using his knowledge of the industry as a consultant. He officially left Honeywell at the end of October, but had been off work for about two months due to ill health.

As accounting systems, services and fleet manager, West oversaw the gradual outsourcing of the management of Honeywell's 1,550-vehicle fleet and was instrumental in establishing the company's global fleet deal with General Motors. His deputy at Honeywell, Mike Hydon, was made redundant at the beginning of the year and now Fleetlease manages vehicle servicing, while Russell Vehicle Management won the accident management contract in April.

John Baldwin, Honeywell's purchasing manager, has taken responsibility for the ensuring the smooth running of these contracts. Of the future West, a past winner of Fleet News Awards, said: 'I plan to set up as an independent car fleet adviser, offering operators of between 250 and 300 vehicles a menu of service reviews, from a complete assessment to focusing on issues like fuel usage and accident recording processes.'

West plans to establish the consultancy business - to be called Independent Car Fleet Adviser -next year. He is to continue as finance controller of the Institute of Car Fleet Management, which he helped establish in 1992.