Who

Zarin Mehta is the president and executive director of the New York Philharmonic.

Backstory

Mehta was born into an Indian Zoroastrian family in Bombay, where his father, Mehli, founded the Bombay symphony. Zarin, though, didn't gravitate toward music immediately—he studied accounting in England and moved to Canada in the 1960s to work at Coopers & Lybrand. After working his way up to partner at the firm, he joined the board of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, then left accounting altogether to take over as the orchestra's managing director in 1981. He spent nearly a decade with the MSO before crossing the border to work with the Chicago Symphony and help revitalize the long-running Ravinia Music Festival. In 2000, Mehta was tapped to head up the New York Philharmonic, replacing Deborah Borda, who left to become the managing director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Of note

When Mehta took over, he was handed the tough task of revitalizing the Philharmonic, which had been suffering from declining attendance, budget problems, and a performance space (Avery Fisher Hall) in need of major renovations. He's been aggressive about marketing, introducing a summer touring schedule and residency in Vail, and he's scared up funding to renovate the space (construction is slated to begin in 2010). That he's pushing 70 hasn't kept Mehta from introducing technological innovations, either: In the past few months, he's brokered deals with iTunes and Deutsche Grammophon to make Philharmonic concerts available for download. His biggest decision most recently, though, was picking a successor to Lorin Maazel, who steps down in 2009. Along with the Philharmonic's chair, Paul Guenther, and board of trustees—which includes J. Christopher Flowers, Jeffrey Kindler, Bruce Kovner, and Karen LeFrak—Mehta chose Alan Gilbert as the next music director. Critics were overwhelmingly supportive: "Mr. Gilbert is an unpretentious musician with no whiff of the formidable maestro about him. And that is just what makes him such a refreshing choice for the Philharmonic," said the Times' Anthony Tommassini.

Personal

Mehta's wife is Carmen Lasky Mehta, who just so happens to be his brother's ex-wife. Lasky and conductor Zubin Mehta were divorced in the 1960s; concerned about her well-being after the split—and having moved out of town—Zubin asked his brother to periodically check in on her. They ended up falling in love and married a few years later. Zarin has two kids with Lasky, Rohanna and Rustom. He also has two stepchildren (who were formerly his niece and nephew), Zarina and Merwan. The family lives in a 1,800-square-foot apartment on West 84th Street.

No joke

Mehta wears kimonos at home—and must have one with him whenever he travels. He explained, "As long as I have my kimono, I can manage.'