The new President of Deutsche Grammophon has been named as Clemens Trautmann. 

He will succeed Mark Wilkinson, who moves to take up the post of Vice President International Strategy and Artist Development at Universal Classics, on December 1. 

For the last six years Trautmann, 38, has worked at digital publishing company Axel Springer, whose titles include Die Welt and Bild – most recently as Managing Director of Axel Springer’s Immonet online business and heading up the office of the CEO as Chief of Staff. Earlier in his career, Trautmann – a qualified lawyer – had studied clarinet at Lübeck Academy of Music (where his teachers included Sabine Meyer) and then at the Juilliard School, before performing as both soloist and chamber musician. 

The appointment of someone from outside the classical music recording world to the head of one of the world’s most iconic labels will be an unexpected one. However, at a time when the recording industry is grappling with how to evolve in an era of streaming and downloading, the appointment of someone with a strong digital publishing background (as well as with proven classical credentials) might be taken as an eloquent sign of DG and Universal Classics’s desire and ambition to address both the challenges and opportunities posed by online music. 

That significance of Trautmann’s digital background was reflected in statements by both Dickon Stainer, Universal Music’s President and CEO of Global Classics, and Trautmann himself. 

‘Clemens's appointment marks a new chapter in the history of Deutsche Grammophon,’ said Stainer. ‘He is a musician himself, and he brings unique experience in managing a changing business at a time when the classical music industry is in an era of extraordinary transformation. I am sure Clemens is going to offer artists a compelling new vision and I am very excited he is joining the Company.’

Trautmann, meanwhile, said: ‘Classical music today is in a position that calls for a fresh approach to keeping it valuable and relevant, in particular in the way we adapt to digital platforms. Continuing to position the Deutsche Grammophon brand as a driver of innovation and as the uncompromising standard of excellence can only be achieved by working closely with each of our artists and with every member of the team. It’s a wonderful challenge that I am greatly looking forward to.’