The Score | West to East: Deborah Borda to Head New York Philharmonic

Deborah Borda has been named president and chief executive officer of the New York Philharmonic, to begin on September 15, 2017. She succeeds Matthew VanBesien, who has held the orchestra’s chief administrative post since 2012. She has served as president and CEO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2000, having previously served in the same capacity at the New York Philharmonic during the 1990s. New York Philharmonic Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Thomas will become executive director on May 1, 2017. At the LA Phil, Executive Director Gail Samuel has assumed the role of acting president and CEO while LA Phil Board Chairman Jay Rasulo leads a search committee for Borda’s permanent replacement. Commenting on the move, Borda said, “This is a homecoming for me as a native New Yorker, but, more than that, it is a key transitional moment filled with opportunity to make a difference for one of the great musical organizations of the world—the New York Philharmonic. I sincerely wish to express my deepest thanks and admiration for Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic ‘family,’ who have been courageous and loving partners over 17 years.”