Sotheby’s Shuffles its Deck with Multiple Promotions and Title Swaps in Europe and Asia 

Sotheby’s announced on Wednesday a string of changes among the leadership of their Global Fine Arts Division in both Europe and Asia. The announcement comes on the heels of significant shake ups at the auction house, including the departure of Brooke Lampley, who was arguably Sotheby’s most formidable specialist in the Impressionist and Modern department, and up to 50 layoffs in their London offices.

According to a press release signed by Sebastian Fahey, Sotheby’s managing director of global fine art, Helena Newman, who has served as chairman of Sotheby’s Europe since 2016, has been named worldwide chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art. Newman will pull double duty, retaining her roles as European chairman and auctioneer.

In Asia, Sotheby’s has brought on the Hong Kong-based specialist Elaine Holt, who worked at Christie’s for over a decade, most recently as deputy chairman and international director of Christie’s Asia Pacific. Holt’s role as head of the Modern and Contemporary Art team in Asia will be bolstered by two new senior specialists in Contemporary art: Joseph Yang, who joins from the Chinese auction house Poly, and former Sotheby’s employee Boris Cornelissen, who left the house in 2020 to run his own gallery in Australia.

Holt’s new position comes at a precarious time in the Asian art market, as tensions rise between China, the US, and Taiwan, which could forecast unfavorable economic conditions and security implications. Beijing is also juggling a real estate crisis that could prove disastrous. Still, Asia has been a major target for all the auction houses in recent years, with Christie’s, Phillips, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams making moves to strengthen their presence in the region. In 2022, Sotheby’s announced a new Asia headquarters, a 24,000 square-foot space in Hong Kong’s luxury hub, Landmark Chater, which is set to open this year. 

Alex Branczik and Max Moore, who together led the Modern and Contemporary business in Asia for the last three years, will move head back to London and New York, respectively, also with new titles and responsibilities. Branczik will become chairman and head of Modern and Contemporary art in Europe, while Moore will become head of Sotheby’s sales and senior private sales specialist for Modern and Contemporary art. 

James Sevier, who for three years worked as European head of Contemporary art, has transitioned to deputy chairman of Contemporary art, Europe, a position which, according to the press release, “will provide him space to work more closely with his portfolio of major clients.” Auctioneer and deputy chairman of Contemporary art, London, Michael Macaulay will move into Sevier’s position as head of Contemporary art, Europe while retaining his deputy chairman title.