Simon Woods, president and chief executive of Seattle Symphony, has been named chief executive of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, orchestra officials announced today.

Woods, who has held the Seattle post since 2011, will assume the post in January.

Woods replaces Deborah Borda, who served as LA Phil’s president and chief executive for 17 years before stepping down in September to become chief of the New York Philharmonic, the organization she headed in the 1990s.

“Simon has a wonderful reputation, a great knowledge of music, a passion for music education, and understands the intricacies of an organization as complex and unique as the LA Phil,” Gustavo Dudamel, music and artistic director of the Los Angeles orchestra, said in a statement Thursday.

“It is the very greatest honor to have been chosen for this position,” Woods said in the statement. “The Los Angeles Philharmonic demonstrates persuasively and passionately in every aspect of its work what a contemporary and forward-looking orchestra can be in one of the world’s great global cities.”

Gail Samuel, acting president and chief executive of the LA Phil since March, will resume her position as executive director upon Woods’ arrival.

Media and entertainment reporter Diane Haithman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @dhaithman.