He has worked at the auction house for 23 years and has been a key figure in helping Christie's establish a leading position in the contemporary art market.
As chairman and international head of postwar and contemporary art he secured top works for the company and dealt with major clients.
He will leave at the end of the year and team up with gallerist Dominique Lévy to create Lévy Gorvy, an independent art advisory business.
Christie’s have now confirmed the move and said Gorvy will “continue to work closely with Christie’s on special projects and consignments across the 20th century field”.
Gorvy said his decision to leave the firm had been “difficult” because of his “profound love for Christie's and the deep respect and pride”.
Christie’s chief executive Patricia Barbizet said: “We are confident he will continue his decades-old relationship with Christie’s in the 20th century art field.”
Christie’s announced that its postwar and contemporary art department will continue to be led globally by Laura Paulson, Francis Outred, Mariolina Bassetti, and Loic Gouzer, along with Barrett White, Sara Friedlander, Andy Massad, and Koji Inoue in New York, Xin Li and Eric Chang in Asia, and Edmond Francey in London.
Alex Rotter, formerly of Sotheby’s, will join the department in the US next year.
