1 May 2025: Leadership in Transition: André Le Roux Hands Over Chairmanship of the World Jazz Network to Alexander Beets
Connecting Cultures, Connecting People Through Jazz
The World Jazz Network is proud to announce a new chapter in its journey of global cultural connection and musical excellence. In a leadership transition grounded in mutual respect and shared vision, Alexander Beets has been appointed Chairman and President for Europe, North America and Nordic Affairs of the World Jazz Network, succeeding André Le Roux, who now steps into the role of Vice Chairman and President for Africa, Asia, South America and BRICS.
This succession marks the continuation of a dynamic and collaborative era for the Network, which has rapidly expanded over the past few years through a vibrant web of jazz festivals, tours, and artist exchanges across Europe, Africa, India, and Asia. At its heart, the World Jazz Network champions musical harmony through improvisational diversity, building bridges between cultures and people through the universal language of jazz.
As the CEO of IKS Cultural Consulting and head of Concerts SA, André Le Roux has played a foundational role in shaping the Network’s ethos of reciprocity, inclusion, and talent development. Reflecting on his term, Le Roux stated:
“It is truly inspiring to see the world embrace the World Jazz Network’s philosophy of collaboration. It’s been an honour to lead during this time of exciting growth. I warmly hand over the baton to Alexander Beets — a trusted partner and visionary leader who will take the Network to even greater heights. I remain committed to expanding our reach, especially across Africa, Asia, and South America, and fostering vibrant South-South and BRICS collaborations.”
Alexander Beets, saxophonist and Director of the Musicians Paradise Festival (formerly Amersfoort World Jazz Festival), is a founding member of the World Jazz Network. He now takes the helm at a time when the Network is preparing to formalize as a legal entity, with plans to establish an advisory board comprising leading festival partners from around the globe.
Under Beets’ leadership, the Network will continue to host its annual World Jazz Conference, an anchor for global artistic exchange and professional networking. The next edition takes place from 12–15 June 2025 in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, a city that has been a hub for international jazz development over the past decade.
The upcoming festival and conference will welcome delegations from a host of world-renowned festivals, including Sicilian Jazz Festival, Canary Islands Jazz Festival, Szczecin Jazz, Budapest Jazz, Riga Jazz Room, Perth International Jazz Festival, Joy of Jazz (Johannesburg), and Bangkok Jazz Festival, among many others.
With exciting developments on the horizon — including a pan-European talent development project running from 2026 to 2028 — the World Jazz Network reaffirms its mission: to connect cultures, support emerging artists, and create global stages where jazz speaks across borders.
For more information, visit www.worldjazznetwork.com
Details on the 2025 Conference: www.musiciansparadise.nl
