Los Angeles-based Bobit Business Media; publisher of Automotive Fleet magazine and a range of other magazines devoted to commercial, small business, and public fleets; and Brussels-based Nexus Communication, publisher of Fleet Europe magazine, announced they have entered into a strategic partnership to better inform, train, educate, and facilitate networking among global commercial fleet managers worldwide.

“Since 1961 when Automotive Fleet was launched, we have prided ourselves on helping fleet managers in every area of the industry to run their fleets as efficiently as possible. Our partnership with Nexus will allow us to take that mission to a truly global level,” said Sherb Brown, vice president and publisher FleetGroup. “We look forward to building synergies with Nexus to and reaching new audiences with our partnership. This is a win-win for the fleet industry globally.”

As the two leading commercial fleet publishing companies in their respective geographic regions, the Bobit and Nexus partnership will use their collaboration to exchange knowledge and information in order to better serve international fleet executives in procurement, fleet management, finance, sustainability, and HR. The collaboration will allow both publishers to offer an even more extensive range of information, communication, education, and networking for the improvement of global fleets headquartered in the U.S. or Europe.

"The collaboration between our two media houses, each a leader on their respective markets for many years, is a significant step for the entire sector. This will allow us together to add even more value to the information and education linked to the process of fleet management globalization," said Thierry Degives, managing partner Nexus Communication.

Among the first steps in the partnership, Fleet Europe and Automotive Fleet have expanded their web presence to reach a global audience. Fleet Europe has launched its global fleet platform www.globalfleet.com, and Automotive Fleet has launched its global fleet management website at www.automotive-fleet.com/channel/global-fleet.aspx. In addition, the companies will collaborate on an electronic Global Fleet Management Directory and Fact Book, which will be published later this year.

“The trend towards globalization in fleet management has really taken off and more and more fleet executives are in the process of analyzing the possibilities to optimize fleet management globally,” said Caroline Thonnon, partner Nexus Communication, business development and global fleet leader. “Our mission is to help them find useful information and expertise. Sharing knowledge is crucial. The slogan ‘Think globally, act locally’ is more pertinent than ever. We believe this unique partnership with Automotive Fleet will give true added value for the international community, since we share the same values and objectives.”

As part of this strategic partnership, Bobit and Nexus have announced they are organizing an all-new annual Global Fleet Management Conference. The new conference is designed to create an environment for multi-national fleet customers and global fleet suppliers to network, exchange best practices, and expand their skill sets for today’s era of global fleet operations. The Global Fleet Management Conference will debut Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2013, in Phoenix, where it will be co-located with Bobit Business Media’s annual Green Fleet Conference. In 2014, the Global Fleet Conference will be held in Europe.

“We expect the Global Fleet Management Conference and the upcoming Global Fleet Management Directory to be just the beginning of many exciting projects we’ll be pursuing with Nexus over the next several years,” said Mike Antich, editor and associate publisher of Automotive Fleet, chair of the Green Fleet Conference, and co-chair of the Global Fleet Management Conference with Ed Bobit, CEO of Bobit Business Media.

“Co-locating the inaugural conference with Bobit’s Green Fleet Conference, now in its sixth year, is particularly advantageous for the international fleet managers, since sustainability is such an important part of today’s fleet mission for multinational fleets.”

Belgium-based Nexus Communication is the publisher of Fleet Europe, Smart Mobility Management, and Global Fleet.