Michelin has agreed to outsource its entire fleet operations – a move that includes not employing an in-house fleet manager – at the recommendation of its current fleet manager.
The man currently in control of Michelin’s fleet John Stack revealed to Fleet News that he was the driving force behind the move to outsource the company’s fleet operation.
“I shall soon be out of work but this is at my own instigation. Fleet has always been under-resourced here and what I’ve achieved has been a struggle.
If this had happened years ago it would have allowed me to take on a more strategic role,” said the man who was also instrumental in lifting the tyre firm’s at-work driving safety performance by more than 50%.
“While I think I have a lot of expertise, I’ve never had the resource to do what I’ve wanted to do. Our IT systems were creaking and rather than carry out a revamp or buy in new equipment, outsourcing seemed more sensible."
The move is inline with Michelin’s policy to outsource its non-core business and leave the expertise to others, he told Fleet News.
A company man for more than half his life, 60-year-old Stack is now a part-time consultant helping transfer Michelin’s 340-vehicle fleet operation to FSG.
“I expect to finish at the end of November. There’s nothing acrimonious about this – it’s been the sensible thing to do in our case. We are happy with the way things are going because FSG is really professional and has some fantastic services,” he said.
Michelin was recently named a business champion by the Driving for Better Business campaign after cutting its road crash rate by more than half over the last five years.
Mandy Lifeboats - 04/10/2010 15:14
Blimey. I hope he got his "30-year company man" compensation signed off before they read about Michelin's under-resourcing and creaking IT systems. Well, John, at 60 and after struggling for so long, you'll be happy to move on and all the best to you. As for all you fleet managers in your 40s and 50s, well good luck to you, too.