Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 17-year President and Chief Executive Deborah Borda will step down from the post to become chief of the New York Philharmonic, the organization she headed in the 1990s. She will assume the new position Sept. 15, replacing Matthew VanBiesen, who announced his resignation in January, effective in the spring.

The L.A. Philharmonic said in a statement that the search for a replacement will begin immediately by a committee led by L.A. Philharmonic Board Chairman Jay Rasulo. “A seamless transition and ever ambitious continuation of all the L.A. Phil’s programs and initiatives will be observed,” the statement said.

Borda was in New York Wednesday and unavailable for comment. In a statement, she expressed her gratitude to “superb” musicians, board and staff and said the L.A. Philharmonic has “boldly defined a way forward for musical organizations throughout the globe.”

Borda singled out music director Gustavo Dudamel for special thanks, calling him “my partner for now almost a decade.” Borda scored a major coup for the orchestra by tapping the young Venezuelan conductor, then 26, in 2007 to replace Esa-Pekka Salonen when Salonen announced his intention to resign to spend more time composing music. Dudamel assumed the post in 2009.

The L.A. Philharmonic is a resident performing arts company of the Los Angeles Music Center.

“Deborah Borda made a significant contribution to Los Angeles, the LA Phil and The Music Center,” said Center Chief Executive Rachel Moore in an e-mail. “Her leaving is a loss for L.A. but a gain for the New York Philharmonic. We wish Deborah the best as she returns to New York and the opportunities that await her.”

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