ONE of the fleet industry's best-known characters, Paul Sterne, has taken early retirement from Vauxhall after 34 years with the Luton-based manufacturer - 20 years in fleet sales. However, after leaving Vauxhall on Monday, January 4, he took up a new position as group fleet sales director with Vauxhall dealership group Masters' South London.

Sterne said: 'Fleet has been such a positive part of my life that it was difficult to take early retirement from Vauxhall and walk away from the industry. I have been offered a good job and will continue to sell Vauxhall products.' Sterne, who joined Vauxhall as an engineer, was recruited to the fleet department as a national account manager by Mike Bonner, currently Vauxhall's corporate sales director.

Five years ago he was promoted to new business director with responsibility for converting non-Vauxhall fleets. As a result of Sterne's departure a restructuring, announced late last year, has seen Maurice Howkins promoted to fleet sales director with responsibility for four national account managers - Frank Carruthers, Bob Cosby, Mike Roberts and Ian Palmer - who form the new business team.