Here we look at some of the key changes – and the occasional game of employment musical chairs
Move: Cheyenne Westphal from Sotheby’s to Phillips
Background: Sotheby’s corporate shake-up prompted high-profile departures. Westphal, who started at Sotheby’s in 1996, had focused on Contemporary art, as the architect of auctions such as the 2008 Damien Hirst sale Beautiful Inside My Head Forever. By May this Sotheby’s ‘lifer’ was chairman of Phillips.
Significance: A coup for Phillips. With the departure of co-head Alex Rotter for Christie’s the previous month, Sotheby’s Contemporary department loses its two rainmakers. Christie’s, meanwhile, did not get to hammer home an apparent competitive advantage. Its primary business-getter Brett Gorvy announced in December he would be leaving to join forces with the dealer Dominique Lévy.
Move: Mark Quayle, Oliver Pepys & John Hayward from Spink to Dix Noonan Webb
Background: The core of the medals department at Spink with a combined service of 47 years joined DNW in April – an unwelcome distraction to Spink’s 350th anniversary celebrations. Pierce Noonan, partner at DNW, described the trio as “three of the most knowledgeable and highly respected experts in the field of orders, decorations and medals”.
Significance: The exodus of experts from one firm to another risks changing the balance of power in this niche collecting field. However, suggestions that the Spink medal department was holed below the water proved premature: later in the year David Erskine-Hill moved from DNW, where he was head of the medal department, to Spink, his former employer. Spink was delighted, describing Erskine-Hill as “the longest-serving auctioneer and cataloguer in his chosen field …setting numerous saleroom records,” citing his strong relationships with collectors and veterans worldwide. Spink celebrated its milestone year in style with a period dress party in London.
Move: Hugh Edmeades from Christie’s to consultancy
Background: Christie’s gavel-master Hugh Edmeades took 2300 auctions, selling more than 300,000 lots during his 38-year career. He stood down from his full-time job in the autumn and is now an independent freelance auctioneer.
Significance: Edmeades retains his title of international auctioneer for Christie’s.
Move: Richard Gold from Lawrences to Duke’s
Background: Gold, one of the best-known regional valuers and auctioneers, left Lawrences of Crewkerne where he had been for more than 30 years to freelance for the Dorchester firm.
Significance: Duke’s has expanded its reach with the aid of a former local rival. Later in the year, Yorkshireman Adam Schoon followed suit, joining Duke’s as a consultant to head its Asian art department. He had spent more than 20 years with Tennants in Leyburn.
Move: Hannah O’Leary from Bonhams to Sotheby’s
Background: During her decade at Bonhams, O’Leary helped organise the first international auctions of South African art. She joins Sotheby’s as head of Modern and Contemporary African Art as the firm launched dedicated sales in this category in 2016.
Significance: Sotheby’s sees potential in the embryonic African contemporary market.
Move: Henry Wyndham and Melanie Clore leave Sotheby’s
Background: The exodus of senior staff at Sotheby’s continued with the departure of the firm’s senior auctioneer (Wyndham) and co-chairman of the Impressionist & Modern art department (Clore). Former co-chairmen of Sotheby’s Europe, both had been at the firm for a generation, 22 years and 35 years respectively.
Significance: It emerged in July that the pair would together launch their own art advisory firm company and Clore Wyndham Fine Art began business later in the year.
Move: Harry Wilson joins Stanley Gibbons
Background: A series of grave financial predictions at Stanley Gibbons, parent company of Dreweatts, Baldwin’s, Bloomsbury
Auctions and Mallett, led to the departure of chief executive Mike Hall in July. The company posted losses of £29m after uncovering “fundamental errors” in previous accounts.
Significance: Major surgery is required at the 160-year-old company. Ultimately it will be Wilson who decides the fate of some of the best-known brands in UK dealing and auctioneering.
Move: Dr Clare McAndrew from TEFAF to Art Basel
Background: Leading art market economist McAndrew compiled the TEFAF Art Market Report for eight years before switching allegiance in June. While TEFAF said it will maintain its report, The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report is set for release in Hong Kong in March.
Significance: The value of art market data is rising. McAndrew’s annual report has become the go-to place for art market statistics – and the source of considerable publicity for TEFAF.
Move: Graham Byfield, Julie Lecoindre, Steven Hill, Paul Hill and Caroline Holms to Sovereign Rarities
Background: Key specialists at AH Baldwin & Sons joined former boss Ian Goldbart in a new numismatic dealership and auction house. The firm took double stands at the London Coin Fair and Coinex to promote the brand focusing on “high-grade material in a higher-value range”.
Significance: The much-publicised disquiet at Stanley Gibbons left specialists pondering their future. The creation of Sovereign Rarities mirrored the emergence of Forum Auctions launched in May by Stephan Ludwig, who like Goldbart left Stanley Gibbons in November 2015. AH Baldwin & Sons has begun rebuilding its team, appointing Neil Paisley as managing director from Colin Cooke Coins in September.
Move: Guillaume Cerutti takes the helm at Christie’s
Background: A management shuffle at the world’s No 1 auction house, taking effect in January, will mean French owner François Pinault becomes chairman and Guillaume Cerutti is promoted to become Christie’s chief executive. He replaces Patricia Barbizet, who becomes vice chairman.
Significance: Cerutti, currently president of Christie’s Europe, was poached by the firm last year from Sotheby’s where he was chief executive of its French business and European deputy chairman. Barbizet, a close confidant of Pinault, has done her time: she plugged an important gap following the departure of Steven Murphy in 2014.
