Christie’s current global head of operations, Julien Pradels, will be promoted to the role of regional president of the Americas this spring, the auction house announced on Friday (14 March). His appointment will fill the role left by Bonnie Brennan, now the company’s chief executive.
Pradels has worked at Christie’s for 14 years and held leadership positions across the company’s offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas. He also led global efforts to modernise the business and was a major player in the launch of Christie’s first Shanghai auction in 2013.
“I look forward to continuing my work innovating, collaborating and bringing colleagues together, as I know that is the best way for us to stay strong, grow and make positive change,” Pradels said in a statement.
Pradels will be tasked with strategic direction, business growth and operations across North and South America, Christie’s says—and amid a challenging market for auction houses. Christie’s sales fell by 6% last year, according to estimates provided in December.
In January, Christie’s announced that Guillaume Cerutti would step down as chief executive after eight years in order to take a job at Artémis, Christie's holding company, overseeing artistic and cultural activities. This includes leading the Pinault Collection—the art holdings of the company’s French billionaire owner, François Pinault.