He replaces Clive Stewart-Lockhart, who is leaving to become managing director of the Salisbury-based Woolley and Wallis.
Mr Richards started his career with Phillips and later Bonhams, where he became a director responsible for the firm's regional operation in the South East of England. He joined Dreweatts in 2008 as the group's director in the South East.
Replacing Mr Richards, in turn, will be Jeremy Sparks. Dreweatts' new director in the South East recently held this position at Bonhams, having previously managed his own saleroom, Calcutt Maclean Standen in Kent.
Dreweatts and Bloomsbury Auctions have made the further appointments of Dr Benedetta Mottino in the Asian art department and Shane Xu in the contemporary prints department.
Separately, Elaine Morgan (nee Binning) takes up a general consultancy role at Donnington Priory, where she had previously worked for over 20 years, while joining Dreweatts' jewellery, silver and watches team is Patricia Law. A long-standing fellow of the Gemmological Association, she brings over 25 years of experience in the auction and valuation industry.
Dreweatts has also appointed Richard Chadwick as a consultant in portrait miniatures.
Stephan Ludwig, the group's executive chairman, said: "These new additions to our staff underline our commitment to providing a highly responsive and client-centric service across the key disciplines in today's evolving auction market place. While much of our transactional business becomes increasingly internet-led, there remains no substitute for direct interaction with our committed and experienced specialists."
