Recruitment

Christie’s specialist Jonathan Laib has left the auction house to take up a role as director at contemporary art dealers David Zwirner this month.

Phillips has made two new hires in the Americas from rival Christie’s as it continues to expand in the region.

Perhaps more than any other year in recent memory, 2016 was the year of the move. ‘Restructuring’ across all three major auction houses led to an unprecedented number of high-profile departures. Here is a summary of the key changes and the occasional game of employment musical chairs.

‘Masterpiece London’ announced today that Nazy Vassegh is to step down as chief executive of the fair at the end of this month.

Christie’s Guillaume Cerutti has been promoted to become the auctioneer’s chief executive, replacing Patricia Barbizet who will become vice chairman.

Adam Schoon has joined Duke's in Dorchester to head its Asian art department.

Two London-based art recruitment agencies have joined forces to become D.R.A.W. Recruitment.

Sotheby’s have begun a voluntary redundancy scheme as they look to cut costs as part of their restructuring plan.

The three founders of ‘Antiques Young Guns’, Gail McLeod, Mark Hill and George Johnson, are to hand the running of the organisation to its members.

A new senior management team has been appointed to take on responsibility for the group of businesses that includes Dreweatts, Baldwin’s and Mallett, ATG has learned.

Stephan Ludwig and Ian Goldbart, creators of the group of businesses that includes Dreweatts, Baldwin’s and Mallett, are understood to have left parent company Stanley Gibbons.

The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) has created the new post of chief executive officer as it seeks to raise its profile in the UK and overseas.

Guillaume Cerutti, chief executive of Sotheby’s France and European deputy chairman, is to leave and join Christie’s as president for London, Continental Europe, the Middle East, Russia and India.

Bonhams have announced changes in their senior management structure.

Following the closure of Bonhams toy department, two senior specialists have signed up with an ambitious Kent auction house.

Former deputy mayor of London, Victoria Borwick MP, has been elected as the new president of the British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA).

Nigel Smith, the Harrogate-based valuer and auctioneer, has joined Morphets of Harrogate as a director after 16 years at Tennants running their Harrogate office.

The BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair has announced the appointment of Madeleine Williams as fair manager.

Noelle McElhatton has been appointed editor of Antiques Trade Gazette, replacing Ivan Macquisten who has left the magazine to establish a media consultancy.

COMMENT: One is a marketing expert from outside the industry with a background in the media, luxury and entertainment sectors, the other is a career auction house professional with decades of service at the same company under his belt.