After an extensive search for candidates, the Städelmuseum in Frankfurt Germany announced today that Philipp Demandt is the new director of the museum as well as of the Liebieghaus, the latter of which is one of the world’s most prominent sculpture museums, and home to a collection of some 3,000 works, dating from ancient Egypt to Neoclassicism.

Demandt, who will take charge of the two museums on October 1, was formerly director of the Alte Nationalgalerie, a museum of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. He is regarded as one of Germany’s most renowned art historians and exhibition curators, according to a statement from the Städelmuseum.

“We are very happy about the fact that, so soon after Max Hollein’s departure, we have succeeded in recruiting one of the most creative minds in the German museum world to direct the two institutions,” said Nikolaus Schweickart, chairman of the Städel Museum administration.

Austrian-born Max Hollein resigned from his position as head of the Städel Museum and the Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection, and from and the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, back in March to helm the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, including the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor.

Frankfurt mayor Peter Feldmann, who is also chairman of the supervisory board of the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, described the hire as “a perfect fit,” adding that he is “delighted” with the appointment. Demandt, as he says, “is an outstanding scholar and art mediator—a museum man of distinction.”

Demandt said as he looked back on “five fulfilling years at the Nationalgalerie with deep gratitude, I am greatly looking forward to Frankfurt—professionally because it has developed to become one of the most exciting art centres in Germany and beyond.”