New CEO of ASOBV

Benedikt Spierings has been appointed the new CEO of the merged institution Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. She will lead the largest cultural institution in Flanders and succeeds Jan Raes, who will step down from his position at the end of this summer.

Trained as a violinist, Benedikt Spierings studied musicology and, following her studies, worked for more than ten years as a consultant for major private-sector companies and various public institutions. She joined Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in 2021 as Manager of Central Planning & Production and was promoted in 2024 to COO and Deputy CEO.

As previously agreed, Jan Raes (67), the current CEO of the merged arts institution Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, will step down on 31 August 2026. The Artistic Directors, Jan Vandenhouwe for Opera & Ballet and Ulrike Niehoff for Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, will continue in their current positions. A successor will be sought for the role of COO.

The decision was taken by the Board of ASOBV vzw on Thursday, 28 May, following a thorough selection procedure. The Board was advised by an international panel of experts. With this appointment, the Board has opted for continuity in leadership and policy. ASOBV vzw is now ready to tackle the major challenges of the coming years: the development of a new strategic plan for the 2028–2032 period, the continued implementation of the merger formally completed on 1 March 2026, and the finalisation of key infrastructure projects.

The Board would like to thank the Flemish Government for its support throughout this complex process and looks to the future with great confidence.

It is a great honour to be entrusted with leading this remarkable merged organisation. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Jan Raes for the strong foundations that are in place today and for the care and dedication with which he has built them. We are now entering an exciting new phase of the merger. Together with our passionate and highly skilled colleagues on and behind the stage, we will continue to build an inspiring and boundary-pushing home for opera, dance and music. I am tremendously excited to take on this challenge with the entire team and to further strengthen our position within the Flemish and international cultural landscape.

— Benedikt Spierings (new CEO)

By appointing Benedikt Spierings as the new Managing Director, the Board of Directors has chosen the right person for the right role. Following an intensive preparation period, the merged organisation is now ready for a rewarding collaboration. The strengths of both Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen are in Benedikt’s capable and caring hands as she leads this next chapter.

— Jan Raes (resigning CEO)

For our artistic operations, the appointment of Benedikt is excellent news. She knows our organisation, our artists and the unique dynamics of opera, dance and symphonic music inside out. This means she can hit the ground running from the moment she takes up her new role. That provides tremendous artistic stability and confidence as we pursue our creative ambitions

— Jan Vandenhouwe (artistic director Opera & Ballet)

The appointment of Benedikt Spierings is a very positive signal for the future of Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. Over the past months, I have come to know her as a sharp-minded, committed and unifying colleague with a broad vision on the power of opera, dance and symphonic music. I look forward to continuing to build, together with her and all our colleagues, an ambitious and inspiring artistic story.

— Ulrike Niehoff (artistic director Antwerp Symphony Orchestra)