Kivits has served as president of Holland Casino's executive board since 1998, and has served in leadership positions in numerous arts organizations.

Van den Ende, who turned 65 on Feb. 23, will still own the company and will be chairman of the company's newly formed supervisory board, which will also include Ewald Kist (former chairman of the Executive Board of ING Group), Wim Dik (former chairman of Unilever Nederland and former chairman of the Board of Management of KPN), and Aat Schouwenaar (former chairman of the Executive Board of Endemol).

That new supervisory board will exit in tandem with the company's pre-existing executive board, which Kivits will lead and which also consists of Bart van Schriek, Maik Klokow, Caspar Gerwe and Erwin van Lambaart.

Van den Ende is also retiring from day-to-day leadership of his other enterprises, such as his private equity company, VandenEnde & Deitmers; and his real estate development company, Living City Property Performance. He will remain owner and chairman of the supervisory board of these companies as well.

The impresario will continue to help with Stage Entertainment's development of new musicals for the European market and in the construction of the VandenEnde Theater and the Nieuwe de la Mar Theaters, both in Amsterdam. Van den Ende has been a producer of numerous Broadway shows in partnership with Dodger Theatricals (or its previous incarnation, Dodger Endemol Theatricals), including Jersey Boys, Titanic, Footloose, High Society and revivals of 42nd Street, 1776 and Into the Woods.

Stage Entertainment often partners with outside producers on European productions of hits developed elsewhere, such as with Mamma Mia! and Cats. But the company has also begun developing shows on its own such as 3 Musketiers. The company also operates 30 theatres and ticketing organizations across Europe.

Kivits has served in leadership positions in various other Dutch organizations, including chairman of Opera Zuid in Maastricht and chairman of the Parade in Den Bosch, and positions in organizations such as the Chassé Theater in Breda, the MECC art fair in Maastricht and the theme park De Efteling.