According to the Stationers’ Company the lecture will be colourful and hard-hitting. Arculus will chart Emap’s transformation from a small regional newspaper publisher to becoming a large media group: a story he likens to “riding a tiger”.

Arculus joined Emap in 1972 and was key to the growth of the company. He left in 1997 and over the following years Emap went through a series of changes and began to decline, ultimately being split into five operating companies in 2012. Only one of the five kept the Emap name. 

Arculus will offer pointers as to what went wrong and also provide lessons for rising media companies.

Deborah Rea, communication manager at Stationers’ Company, said: “I have a feeling this year is going to be even more sparky than previous years.”

Previous speakers have included former De La Rue chief executive Tim Cobbold, who handed in his notice just before the Stationers’ annual lecture last year.

BBC business correspondent Peter Day will introduce the lecture and chair a Q&A session with Arculus. 

The lecture will take place on 9 March 2015 at 6pm. Usually a sell-out event, there are 200 tickets available to the public. 

“There have been a lot of enquiries about the event and I think it will be busy,” said Rea. 

Tickets are priced at £40 for the lecture and £95 for the lecture and dinner. For more information visit: www.stationers.org/events.