UK's O2 Arena chief to join F1 team

UK O2 Arena guru David Campbell is to join forces with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone in the new year.

Campbell is to quit his role as chief executive and president of AEG Europe, the parent company of the O2, to take up a post with Geneva-based Allsport Management, run by entrepreneur Paddy McNally.

Allsport markets and sells trackside advertising at virtually every F1 venue across the world, as well as managing Formula One’s Paddock Club, which provides corporate hospitality at grands prix.

As well as transforming the O2, Campbell boasts an impressive CV as he was previously boss of Virgin Radio prior to overseeing its sale for £225million, and was also head of the London Tourist Board.

Confirming the appointment to Press Association Sport, Ecclestone said: “He is going to join Allsport run by Mr McNally in Geneva and be helping him. He needs a bit of help.

“He hasn’t started yet, so we’ll have to see what exactly he is going to do or not do, obviously. It’s too new to know.

“I hope he can do it. It’s a completely different thing to what he has been doing at O2. But he’s a commercial-minded guy, so I’m sure there will be no problems.”

Ecclestone, meanwhile, has also confirmed he is on the mend after he was mugged outside the Knightsbridge headquarters of his business empire towards the end of last month.

Four men punched and kicked Ecclestone to the ground, making away with jewellery worth £200,000.

Ecclestone, however, has turned the incident to his advantage as shock adverts are due to appear this week for watchmaker Hublot.

Photographs will show Ecclestone sporting a severely blackened right eye and bruising to the left corner of his mouth, with the slogan: “See what people will do for a Hublot.”

Ecclestone, who is proud of the advertisement, said: “It’s a photograph of what happened.

“It (the mugging) wasn’t very pleasant. I wish it hadn’t have happened, and there was no need for it to happen, but anyway...”

Ecclestone added: “The bruising is going down, and today I’ve had the (four) stitches taken out.”