During the last month, AUTOMOTIVE FLEET lost an editor-but gained a new friend in the fleet field. Bernie Brown, whose observations and comments graced this page lo these many months and whose incisive reporting for AF provided a real service to the industry has abandoned his first love - writing - to become Car and Fleet Leasing Manager at Warren Buick in Chicago.

The gang at Bobit Publishing wishes Bernie all good luck and success in his new position. We're sorry to see him go, but happy for our old friend Warren Ottinger at Warren Buick who is getting a great new addition to his staff.

As for the future of AUTOMOTIVE FLEET, there'll be some changes- some big, some minor. A new man in the driver's seat is bound to bring in a new  approach.  But  we'll   be staying right on course in trying to bring our readers-the elite of the automotive FLEET business-the real inside facts and figures on one of the nation's most exciting and fastest growing industries.

Going back over some of the past issues of AF, it's easy to see that's what it's all about-service to the leaders of the fleet field. It's a tradition that Ed Bobit and Bernie Brown have established over the years and one that will be tough to live up to in the future. But rest assured that the proverbial college try will be made. And with coaching by Ed and help from the Bobit team, we should come up with a winner every time.

Judging from the quantity and quality of reader response in the past, we can expect to hear from you if we get off course. That's just as it should be, and how we at AF want it. We look forward to your comments, reactions, criticisms, and suggestions as to how well we are doing our job or how we can serve you better. And, of course, we'd be delighted with any words of praise.

During the oncoming months, your new editor will be getting out in the field to meet as many AF readers as possible. Although as yet I'm no expert in the field of fleet management and leasing, I did spend some time in the automotive industry as an insurance adjuster in my pre-editorial days. But I'll be needing your help. And I'll be picking your brains for ways to help you.

To help me get my feet wet, my mentor, smilin' Ed, has outlined a travel schedule for the upcoming months that will take me from one end of the country to the other. To get really first-hand information on the new ears, I'll be attending the press previews for Ford, Olds, Pont-iac, Cadillac, and Buick in Detroit and those for Chrysler in Dallas. And I'll be looking for all of you at the semi-annual AFLA convention in New York and the semi-annual AALA meeting here in Chicago. So, if you happen to see a guy with a red beard slowly sinking beneath the waves, pull him up by his name- tag. Chances are it will be yours truly,