Following a short spell starting out as promotions manager for De Standaard, De Clippeleir worked as a manager at both EMI and Universal Music. In the last few years, he has devoted himself to business coaching.

De Clippeleir, 48, has promised not to introduce any radical changes in policy. "The AB is on a very promising course, and there's no reason to change much of the programme,"hesaid."JariDemeulemeester and his fantastic management team have done a great job."

De Clippeleir, who will work with four managers and a staff of 47, explained that the team effort was something that attracted him to the position. "The last three years I've worked on my own, and while that was pleasant, I did miss working in a group situation."

Demeulemeester, meanwhile, retires at the end of February after 22 years as general director of the AB and, prior to that, four years as its artistic director. He promised he would go on being "an advocate and an ambassador for music".