The London Symphony Orchestra has announced that John Harte will be the orchestra’s next managing director, replacing Dame Kathryn McDowell, who steps down after 20 years in the role at the end of the summer.

Harte has been chief executive of Aurora Orchestra since 2009, where, alongside principal conductor Nicholas Collon and creative director Jane Mitchell, he has built the group from a startup into one of the most successful and innovative new British arts organisations in recent decades. Prior to his role with Aurora, Harte worked for the British choral label Collegium and completed a doctorate in Middle Eastern history at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

“It’s a privilege to be appointed to the MD role at a moment of such artistic and organisational strength, and I look forward to working closely with players, staff, board and collaborators to take the London Symphony Orchestra to still greater heights in the coming years,” he said.

Sarah Quinn, chair of the LSO, added, “John has led outstanding work at Aurora Orchestra, which has become a significant force in UK music in an impressively short period of time. We very much look forward to working together.”

Harte will join a senior team that includes chief conductor Sir Antonio Pappano and conductor emeritus Sir Simon Rattle. The orchestra was established in 1904 and today is resident at London’s Barbican, where it gives around 70 concerts a year, but also has residencies in Paris, Tokyo and at the Aix-en-Provence festival.

Aurora’s Collon and Mitchell paid tribute to their outgoing chief executive. “We are so grateful for everything John has given to Aurora; his hard-working dedication, his daring sense of ambition, and his profound humanity.” Dame Liz Forgan, chair of Aurora Trustees, confirmed that the search for his replacement would begin shortly.