LONDON—British Museum director Neil MacGregor was approached to replace Philippe de Montebello as head of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but has decided to stay at the London post for another five years, according to the British Museum.

Bloomberg reports that at a press breakfast this morning, British Museum press head Hannah Bolton said of the Met that MacGregor "was approached by them, he had a conversation with them, but in the course of that conversation he ruled himself out of the job."

Chairman Niall FitzGerald said that MacGregor had agreed to lead the British Museum through 2012.

Asked directly if he was offered the job, MacGregor said only that the Met's search committee had "a very large number of conversations with people who were not candidates'' about the Met's future.

The Met has not commented on the discussions.