The Role
This position is responsible for leading the Old Master Paintings private sales channel for Christie’s with a specialist’s perspective. In conjunction with the Private Sales Business Director, this role will formulate and sustain a long- term global Private Sale strategy for Old Master Paintings, ensuring that it is effectively delivered across all regions.
The role will work closely with all members of the global Old Masters department to encourage business getting, selling and to make maximum use of art expertise and client relationships. They will be ultimately responsible for supporting specialists on all the works that come in through Private Sales including sourcing, growing, closing and maintaining profitability on behalf of the Old Master’s Department. They will spearhead and proactively collaborate with the Private sales researcher, Client Strategy and Object Intelligence team to match objects to clients and close Private Sale transactions.
Specific duties & responsibilities will include but are not limited to
- Drive sales, both individually and as a key facilitator amongst the global Christie’s team, identifying and connecting opportunities across the organisation to increase transactions
- Focus on continuing private sales growth within the cluster by developing a robust pipeline and managing inventory and opportunities; drive and organise private sale hilling sessions and pricing meetings internationally with the relevant teams
- Maintain margins on private sale deals to ensure profitability targets are met and in line with the overall budget
- Engage as an active leader, working with the GMD, Global Head and Business Director in setting and implementing the global Private Sales strategy
- Partner effectively with EMEA, Americas and APAC colleagues to develop a global approach to the Old Masters Private Sales business and leverage opportunities across regions
- Increase collaboration between departments, chairman’s office and regions to optimize private sales (both for consignments and sales), working to review key clients and regions for activation of private sale opportunities
- Oversee the cataloguing, research and note-writing for private sale works, ensuring that all due diligence checks are carried out relating to attribution, provenance, exhibition history and literature. To include contacting experts directly and writing on works.
- Liaise with the Restitution team to verify war-time provenance.
- Review condition reports prepared by external restorers for private sale works.
- Regularly review top clients with colleagues ensuring appropriate Private Sales strategies are in place, particularly during post-auction reviews
- Participate in forums such as masterpiece reviews, regional client reviews to drive private sales
- Assist and advise on business getting proposals as well as taking part in client discussions and presentations to win business
- Provide oversight of the strategy, sourcing and selling of private sales exhibitions
- Project manage key private sales projects and initiatives
- Work with the Business Director and Private Sales team to identify and address process improvements, resource needs and business efficiencies to eliminate roadblocks and catalyse growth
- Work with the Marketing, PR and private sales teams on related PR & marketing initiatives
- In conjunction with the Business Director, oversee the monitoring and measuring of sales and profitability targets
- Provide support for the departments Auctions, working collaboratively with the Head of Departments and Head of Sales. This role will report to the Global Business Director for Private Sales and to the regional Head of Department.
- Other duties as assigned by manager
The Candidate
- Minimum of 10 years of art market experience, preferably in the secondary market with significant client management and sales experience.
- An educational background in Art History and professional experience in Old Masters
- Strong understanding of our business; Auction and Private Sales experience preferred
- Financial acumen and sales experience
- Strong negotiation skills
- Strong client service skills
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from colleagues and clients
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
- Effective people manager
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills
- Marketing savvy
What’s great about working for us
- 25 days annual leave + 1 day Birthday leave
- Christie’s Christmas office closure (guaranteed between 25th Dec – 2nd Jan) – in addition to annual leave: almost two weeks to fully switch off and spend time with friends and family
- Additional 1 week’s annual leave within the year of a 5-year anniversary i.e. 5th, 10th, 15th and so on
- Volunteering day: Take an additional day of annual leave to volunteer for a charitable organisation that’s important to you
- Donation matching of up to £500 per annum to help you support the organisations you care about
- Flexible Fitness Fund - £400 per year expense allowance for health and wellness related activity (taxable)
- Access to world-renowned art: with regular exhibitions in our galleries to wander around and exclusive guided tours hosted by specialist colleagues
- Discretionary Bonus (dependent on the business and employee performance payable in March each year)
- Generous retirement plan: We will double match your pension contribution up to 5% of your basic salary (Max 10% contribution from Christie’s)
- Private Health Insurance – no employee contribution needed, subsidised for other family members
- Dental Insurance – (may be extended at personal cost)
- Generous Income Protection Insurance in the event of accident, sickness or injury after 12 months
- Competitive Life Insurance policy from first day
- Employee Assistance Programme – access to personal advice and support services including counselling
- Eyecare vouchers (once a year)
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Christie’s Extras – discounts on over 800 retailers, holiday packages, dinners and weekly shops
- Seniorcare by Lottie, a comprehensive eldercare solution
- Robust family first policy:
Ø 16 weeks full pay on Maternity Leave
Ø Four-day week, for eight weeks, at full pay on return from Maternity Leave
Ø Dependent back-up care: 10 sessions/ days of childcare or eldercare per year
Ø The Stork Club: Our community of parents who meet regularly over breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea…
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