The fleet industry has lost an icon, and a family has lost a brother, husband, father, and son. 

Mike Antich, a towering figure in the fleet management, automotive, and remarketing industries, passed away on Friday, Dec. 19, following a short illness. He is survived by his wife Nelly, son Michael, daughters Nicole and Danielle, brother Tony, and mother Violet. 

He was a lifelong advocate for the fleet profession, and his influence shaped the industry for four decades.

Antich helped define how fleet management was covered, discussed, and advanced. The family will announce memorial services at a future date.

Antich’s Career at Bobit

Hired in 1985 as editor of Automotive Fleet Magazine, and later rising to associate publisher, Antich wrote or edited more than 5,000 articles on fleet management, OEM fleet activities, fleet leasing, and remarketing. 

As Bobit spread into numerous fleet verticals, Antich led in the creation and management of Government Fleet Magazine, Work Truck, Business Fleet, and Fleet Financials. 

He served as chair for several events, including the Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR), Government Fleet Expo (GFX), and the Fleet Safety Conference, now part of Fleet Forward Conference. He founded the Global Fleet Conference (GFC) with initial partners Nexus Communications. GFC (now part of FFC) helped expand the industry’s reach and professional standards domestically and internationally.

Antich left Bobit in 2023 and continued to consult for the industry. 

Antich’s Work in the Fleet Industry

More than an editor and publisher, Antich helped define the direction of the fleet industry through the institutions that support and govern it. 

Antich served AFLA, the corporate fleet association, in numerous leadership roles, including two terms as president (2008–2009 and 2021–2022). He was also chairman of AFLA’s Globalization Committee, where he played a central role in creating the Global Fleet Networking Consortium, the first collaboration of its kind among five international fleet associations.

Antich organized and championed numerous awards, including the Edward J. Bobit Fleet Manager of the Year Award and Hall of Fame inductions, presented annually at the AFLA conference. He also presented and helped create the Visionary Award for newer fleet managers. 

He was also consistently involved with the NAFA Fleet Management Association through speaking and curriculum formation. Most recently, Antich served on Nexus Communications’ Fleet Europe Awards jury. 

His service extended to the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA), where he was a longtime board member, officer, secretary, and chair of the public relations committee. He also led the IARA certification task force, which developed the industry’s first certification program for vehicle remarketers.

In recognition of his impact, Antich was inducted into the Fleet Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Global Fleet Hall of Fame in 2022. He also received the Remarketing Industry Icon Award, presented jointly by IARA and the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA).

A sought-after international speaker, Antich presented at industry conferences, fleet advisory councils, and sales meetings around the world, where he was known for his insight, historical perspective, and commitment to advancing the profession.

In Mike's Words

Mike Antich’s legacy is one of service, leadership, and stewardship of the fleet industry. His work helped build the institutions, standards, and knowledge base that continue to support fleet professionals today. As it is with Bobit's founder, Ed Bobit, Mike Antich's legacy lives on through his writing. 

The well is deep on the Automotive Fleet site and print magazines, for those who have collected back issues. This passage sums up his approach to the fleet management profession, and it is timeless:

"I learned long ago that it is impossible to be a true expert in fleet management. It is a continually evolving industry, and the best that we can hope for is to keep pace with the changes and perhaps gain the insight to peer a little beyond the horizon. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to know many great fleet managers in North America, Europe, and LatAm. I learned many valuable lessons from these fleet managers on how knowledge, collaboration, and leadership skills can be used to develop a best-in-class fleet operations. 

Most fleet managers are lifelong learners who believe that a day without learning is a day wasted. However, you tend to internalize this truism only with real-world experience. There are many things that appreciate in value with age, such as good wine and classic cars, but so too does a fleet manager’s knowledge and subject-matter expertise."

How Antich closed his editorials sums up his gentle approach to the industry at large:

"Let me know what you think."