Jean-Luc Choplin took over at Sadler's Wells, in central London, last year on a contract which would have lasted until 2007. Instead he will take up his new post in late 2006.
The Châtelet theatre has an international reputation in opera and ballet, and a budget of around £30m from the French government and the city of Paris, which leaves other directors weeping with envy.
Mr Choplin's no-nonsense management style was honed in his years working for the Disney Corporation, and instantly ruffled feathers at the more sedate Sadler's Wells. There was a string of well-publicised clashes culminating in a threat of legal action by four women managers over allegations of sex discrimination and constructive dismissal.
The actions were settled out of court before Christmas - "amicably", the company insisted.
Mr Choplin's programming mixture of classical, European and popular culture has been successful. The first year's box office figures of his regime show a healthy increase over a difficult period.
.png?w=600)
