Ann-Marie Knegt, currently deputy editor of Industrial Fire Journal and Fire & Rescue, has been appointed editor of Local Authority Plant & Vehicles.

In her new role on the fleet management and vehicle market title she will be required to keep up to date with the latest industry developments and products.

"My biggest challenge will be to reach out to my audience even more and spot the latest developments in this industry," she said.

"It is my job to spot the best-value, most environmentally friendly solutions for their needs."

Ms Knegt trained in her native country the Netherlands on an international magazine journalism course before later moving across to practice journalism in the UK. She prefers writing in English because the vocabulary is around 10 times larger than the Dutch language.

Before joining the Hemming Group, publishers of Local Authority Plant & Vehicles, Fire Journal and Fire & Rescue, she worked on magazines including the Dutch Esquire, En France magazine and various Dutch newspapers.

Her advice to journalists is to be persistent and not to give up.

"Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. I was told once by a teacher that the chances of a native Dutch speaker working as a journalist in the UK was extremely slim - so persevere!"

She will remain as deputy editor on Industrial Fire Journal and Fire & Rescue magazines.