The new President for the Royal British Legion has taken up his role following the resignation of Sir John Kiszely, who was caught boasting he could help defence companies lobby the military because of his position at the charity.

Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson took his figurehead position at the Legion yesterday, after being voted in by the board of trustees on 6 September, ahead of the scandal that led to Sir John's exit.

Sir John was caught in a sting operation by the Sunday Times newspaper in which reporters posed as representatives of a South Korean arms company. He was found during the three-month undercover investigation to boast that his role at the Legion gave him access to important people in the defence circuit. The article was published on Sunday 14 October and associated videos posted online under the headline "Arms firms call up 'generals for hire'".

On 15 October Sir John penned a letter to the national chairman of the Royal British Legion, John Farmer, advising of his resignation: "I am writing to tell you that I have now decided that it would be inappropriate for me to remain as national president of the Legion," he said.

Sir John continued: "I have made it clear that I have always kept my role of national president completely separate from any business interests, and never used any access gained as president to raise the subject of, or discuss, any business interests whatsoever, let alone to make representations on behalf of clients. And I have made it equally clear that I have never breached any government rules related to lobbying. But I made exaggerated and foolish claims to the contrary, incompatible with my position in the Legion.

"I was due to step down from the role in December, and with my successor already nominated, I believe that it is in the Legion's best interests to bring forward the handover to allow him to take over with immediate effect."

Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson is former deputy chief of the defence staff (personnel), having retired in October 2010, and has links to a number of service charities. These include being chairman of Seafarers UK, vice chair of the Forces Pension Society and vice pesident of Combat Stress. He is also patron of 'Soldier On' and trustee of the Armed Forced Memorial, which rests under the Royal British Legion's charity group.

His unpaid role as president of the Legion is secured for a three-year term.

Speaking of his appointment, Vice Admiral Wilkinson said: "I am delighted to be taking up this role with the Royal British Legion at a time when it is reaching an ever-greater number of armed forces families with a growing range of welfare support, and when it is consolidating its historic gains in having the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant enshrined in law."