Reporting to CEO Guillaume Cerutti, his new title is Chairman Europe and Asia.
As chairman of the auctioneers’ Asia Pacific region since 2010 he has been based in Hong Kong and has led Christie’s expansion in the region including opening new offices in both Shanghai and Beijing, as well as launching sales in Mainland China.
Curiel has been with Christie’s for over 45 years and during that time has served in leadership positions in the US, Europe, and Asia.
“As I return to my base in Europe, I will visit Asia on a regular basis,” he said.
Curiel began his career at Christie’s as an intern in 1969 before becoming a jewellery specialist and eventually leading the firm’s luxury division. As an auctioneer, he has conducted from the rostrum some of the key sales over the last few decades including the collections of the Aga Khan, Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Taylor and Lily Safra.
He was also one of the auctioneers for the landmark sale of the Yves Saint-Laurent collection in Paris in 2009 and even received the rank of Commander of the Légion d'honneur in 2016.
Cerutti described Curiel as “one of the greatest ambassadors of our firm”.
He added: “He leaves Asia having grown the business significantly by engaging a new generation of art collectors and encouraging Asian consignors and buyers to transact with Christie’s on a global scale.”
