Sir David Arculus is to be the next chairman of Energy UK, the trade association representing the UK’s energy sector. Sir David will succeed Lord Spicer when he retires at the annual meeting next month.
The London-based association has also confirmed that current chief operating officer Lawrence Slade will take over day to day operational running of the trade body as interim chief executive succeeding Angela Knight who is leaving at the end of December. Both posts will be effective from 1 January 2015.
Arculus started his career as a BBC producer before moving to Emap which, as Group Managing Director, he built into a major media group. He then led the management buy out and subsequent sale of IPC Media. He served as Chairman of Severn Trent and later of O2. He has also served as a Director of Barclays and Pearson and of a variety of private equity backed companies.
He worked for four years as Chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force, reporting to then prime minister Tony Blair.
Sir David said: “This is a time of major change for the industry and for the country as old power stations are closed and cleaner greener electricity generators are built. This vital industry deserves a clear, strong voice.
“I look forward to getting to grips with the key three-fold challenge of balancing energy security with the low carbon agenda and with bills which people and industry can afford.”
Angela Knight added: “Lawrence has great knowledge of the whole energy sector and wide-reaching contacts which will help him deliver the next phase of the organisation’s life. There are big issues to tackle and Lawrence is the right man for the job.”
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