David Arculus, the chairman of mobile phone company O2, was today elected deputy president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

The CBI said Mr Arculus would serve for a year as deputy to John Sunderland, before an election for the role of president in May 2006.

"The deputy plays an important part in the organisation’s lobbying activity, meets with senior ministers, speaks at major national and international events and takes the lead in appointing the Director-General," the CBI said in a statement.

Mr Arculu, 59 has been chairman of O2 since July last year and chairman of the Government's Better Regulation Task Force since April 2002. He is also a non-executive director of Barclays where he sits on the Remuneration & Nominations Committees.

His previous roles have included: Group Managing Director of Emap, Chief Operating Officer of United News & Media Plc, Chairman of Severn Trent Plc and Chairman of Earls Court & Olympia Ltd.

In his early years at Emap, Mr Arculus launched many magazines, including Smash Hits, the first journal to print pop song lyrics. It went from an initial circulation of 10,000 to one million within a year, helping to transform Emap from a regional newspaper group into an extensive publishing house.

Mr Arculus has also been a member of the National Consumer Council.

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