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David Arculus, the group managing director of Emap, is to join

United News and Media in a move designed to pull together the different

interests of the group. The appointment pushed United’s share price up

by 16.5p on Monday.

Arculus will take the new role of chief operating officer at United,

with responsibility for consumer and specialist publishing, broadcasting

and entertainment, and exhibitions.

Stephen Grabiner, the head of United’s newspaper interests, and Roger

Laughton, who runs the broadcast division, will both report to Arculus

when he takes over on 7 April.

Arculus’s departure from Emap sent the company’s share price tumbling

27p to 785.5p. It follows last year’s boardroom shake-up at the

publishing giant, which precipitated the departure of two non-executive

directors.

Arculus has been with Emap since 1972, and took over as group managing

director in 1989. His partnership at the head of the company with Robin

Miller, Emap’s chief executive, is credited with increasing the value of

the company from pounds 1 million to pounds 1.7 billion over the past 25

years.

Clive Hollick, United’s chief executive, said: ’Arculus has demonstrated

a sure touch as a builder of media businesses. His experience and proven

track record make him a valuable addition to the team at United.’

Arculus’s appointment means that more than half of the ten executive

directors on United’s board either came from MAI - Hollick’s old company

which merged with United Newspapers last year - or have been brought in

during Hollick’s reign at United. Lord Stevens, the chairman of United

and formerly of United Newspapers, is due to take a part-time,

non-executive role in the spring.