In combining the artistic and executive director positions, Wigmore Hall is returning to the structure that it had for more than three decades under the leadership of William Lyne.

"We are delighted to announce that John Gilhooly is to take on the artistic role, in addition to his role as chief executive. John was initially appointed in 2000 to help us realize our considerable artistic and administrative ambitions," said chairman John Tusa.

When Gilhooly arrived, Tusa said, "we needed two directors, working as joint leaders, to see us through the pressures of managing the major developmental activities of the last five years, but given the recent completion of these projects, now is the best time to revert to a single leader."

Gilhooly was born in Ireland and studied at University College Dublin; he also trained as a tenor. Before coming to Wigmore Hall, he worked at UCD's O'Reilly Hall, Harrogate International Centre in Yorkshire, and the ExCeL conference center in London's Docklands.

Built in 1901 by the Bechstein piano company, Wigmore Hall is one of London's leading recital venues.