new leader brings own team; change of regime brings new staff
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
when a new leader takes power, they replace the existing staff with their own people; new broom sweeps clean; every new regime brings its own courtiers
Originally referring to imperial courts where a new emperor would install his own ministers, now widely used in political, corporate, and organizational contexts to describe personnel changes following leadership transitions. Can carry neutral or slightly cynical connotations.
After the new president took office, all the department heads were replaced—truly a case of a new leader bringing in his own team.
Every time this company changes its general manager, there's a wave of personnel changes—as they say, a new broom sweeps clean.
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Don't be surprised that the department head was replaced; it's normal in official circles for a new leader to bring in his own people.
In ancient imperial courts, the phenomenon of new emperors installing their own ministers was especially pronounced—new emperors always had to cultivate their own power bases.