Mike Clasper, who has the task of reshaping the operations and services of EMI, is accustomed to challenges. In his previous role as the chief executive of BAA, he faced everything from environmentalists protesting against the creation of new runways to a takeover by Ferrovial, the Spanish group.

Now Mr Clasper has to deal with EMI staff as he tries to undertake restructuring plans as part of Terra Firma's attempt to make cost savings of £200million a year.

Mr Clasper, 54, was brought up in the Sunderland suburb of High Barnes and was eager to enter the business world from an early age. After earning a double first at Cambridge,

he joined British Rail as a graduate trainee in signalling, but he grew disillusioned and left after three years of engineering training. In 1978 he joined Procter & Gamble as a trainee brand manager, running products such as Flash, Ariel and Fairy Liquid, before becoming president of its global homecare business in 1999, based in Brussels.

Mr Clasper joined BAA as its deputy chief executive in 2001 and was appointed chief executive in 2003, where he stayed for three years. He was appointed to the investor board of EMI in November, where he advised and reviewed the development of EMI's manufacturing, logistics and sales operations around the world.

“The music industry needs to change, and the transformation going on within EMI gives the group the opportunity to lead that change,” he said at the time.

It was announced last week that Tony Wadsworth, who was chairman and chief executive of EMI Music UK & Ireland, would be leaving the company and that his role would be split between Mr Clasper and Roger Ames. Mr Clasper's mission will be to transform EMI's sales, marketing and back-office operations into a global unit.

Mr Clasper is a non-executive director of ITV. Two years ago he was mooted as a potential candidate for chief executive of the broadcaster. He is also on the management committee of The Prince of Wales's Business & the Environment Programme and a founder member of the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change.

He enjoys tennis, skiing, golf, theatre and football and supports Sunderland.