LEX Vehicle Leasing has withdrawn from new business in the small fleet market, and will rely on Lex Vehicle Partners to win sub-20 vehicle accounts. The move has resulted in the loss of 50 jobs. Lex Vehicle Partners is the former Lombard Contract Hire, a network of third party distributors, that accounts for about 20,000 vehicles on Lex Vehicle Leasing's fleet.

The decision will bring an end to Lex Direct, Lex Vehicle Leasing's telesales operation that targeted the small fleet sector, and follows a similar move last week by Dial Contracts to pass responsibility for small fleet business to its own Network partners. Jon Walden, managing director of Lex Vehicle Leasing, said: 'Lex Vehicle Partners and Lex Direct were both going for the same piece of the market. Now we will have just one channel to the market.'

Under the new arrangement, Lex Vehicle Partners will sell Lex Vehicle Leasing's products and services, and maintain relationships with customers, while Lex Vehicle Leasing will provide all the back-up services. In a separate move, Graham Lister, operations director for Lex Vehicle Leasing, will be leaving the company. A replacement is being sought.