Senior international specialist in contemporary art Oliver Barker and président-directeur général of Sotheby’s France Mario Tavella have been named the company's co-chairmen in Europe.
Current chairman since 2011 Philipp Wurttemberg will continue to work alongside Barker and Tavella, but will also take on a new role as co-chair of a new European Strategy Board.
Chairman of Sotheby’s International Robin Woodhead will be the other co-chair of the 13 person strategy board, which will meet in London monthly and report to MD for Sotheby’s in Europe Maarten ten Holder.
The board is tasked with driving strategy for growth in the UK and Europe as well as in the Middle East, Africa and India.
A representative of Sotheby’s described the new board as a “think tank” that will feed back ideas to senior management.
A parallel strategy board has been set up in the US.
Barker and Tavella have also been names as members of the strategy board.
Other members of board include Alex Bell (Old Master Paintings); David Bennett (Jewellery); Claudia Dwek (Italy and Contemporary Art); Edward Gibbs (Middle East and India); Henry Howard-Sneyd (Asian Art); Caroline Lang (Switzerland and Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary Art); Helena Newman (Impressionist and Modern Art); Mark Poltimore (Scandinavia Russia and CIS); and Patti Wong (Asia and Sotheby’s Diamonds).
