Christie’s captures Cerutti…
Christie’s has poached Guillaume Cerutti, the head of Sotheby’s France since 2007, to be its president for London, Europe, the Middle East, Russia and India.
…while Phillips raids Christie’s
The Baer Faxt newsletter reports that Phillips has hired three senior staffers from Christie’s: Jean-Paul Engelen, Hugues Joffre and Robert Manley. Phillips could not confirm the appointments before we went to press. The firm has also appointed Arnold Lehman, the director of New York’s Brooklyn Museum, as senior adviser to chief executive Ed Dolman to develop the Phillips brand.
Bonhams shuffles its pack
Bonhams has appointed Matthew Girling as its chief executive for Europe and Asia. Meanwhile, its former US managing director, Patrick Meade, has moved to Europe and is now group vice-chairman, so the search is on for his successor. Oliver White, a specialist in the UK Islamic and Indian art department, has been promoted to department head.
Online seller out of the game
The online auctioneer Fine Art Bourse has folded before its first sale. The business, founded by Tim Goodman, announced its arrival in 2014 as a “game-changer”, charging lower commissions than the major players. The Antiques Trade Gazette reported that Goodman raised $3m in funding, but in August, a spokeswoman confirmed that the business had gone into receivership.
Artcurial opens in Munich
Artcurial is opening a German office towards the end of October. It will be led by Moritz von der Heydte, formerly of Sotheby’s.
Van Orsouw takes a break
The Zurich-based dealer Bob van Orsouw has taken a sabbatical after 28 years in the business. His daily activities have been put “on hold”, although he says he is still “reachable” through his gallery.
Ancient and Modern rebrands
London’s Ancient and Modern gallery has been renamed Bruce Haines Mayfair after one of its co-founders. It is now on St George Street, next to the 18th-century church named after the saint.
Winds of change in New York
James Cohan Gallery is opening a third space on Grand Street in New York, with an inaugural show of Robert Smithson’s early works (due to open on 31 October). A new gallery, Albertz Benda, has opened in the city’s Chelsea district, on West 26th Street; its inaugural Bill Beckley show is due to open on 10 September. Hammer Galleries has relocated to the Didier Aaron townhouse on East 67th Street, and is due to open on 8 September.
Open and shut in Scandinavia
David Risley Gallery has moved from the centre of Copenhagen to the outskirts of the Danish city, at Bispevej 29. The Christian Andersen gallery, which works mainly with Nordic artists, is at the same address. Oslo’s GAD gallery, opposite the city’s famous Munch Museum, has closed after seven years, having shown artists such as Olaf Breuning, Julia Peirone and Sten Are Sandbeck.