Recruitment

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.

Sotheby’s have appointed Tad Smith, aged 49, as president and chief executive officer, effective March 31, 2015.

Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions, part of the Stanley Gibbons/Noble Investment stable of companies, have boosted their expertise further with a recruitment drive.

After 17 years as managing director of TEFAF Maastricht, Paul Hustinx will step down shortly after this year’s fair to be replaced by new chief executive officer Patrick van Maris.

Christie’s have announced two new appointments at the top of the company.

The founders of Frieze, Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover, are to step down as directors of the contemporary fairs Frieze London and Frieze New York to “focus on developing new projects for the organisation”.

Christie's former chief executive Edward Dolman is to become chairman and chief executive officer of Phillips this summer.

LAPADA, The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, have appointed Rebecca Davies as their new chief executive following the resignation of Sarah Percy-Davis in December.

LAPADA chief executive Sarah Percy-Davis has announced that she is to step down from her post next year largely because of family commitments.

Amy Cappellazzo will leave Christie’s after the London auctions in February to pursue her career outside the company.

Oliver Barker is to take over responsibility for evening Contemporary art sales for Sotheby’s in New York and London following the departure of Tobias Meyer.

Bonhams have promoted Suzannah Yip to the UK Board of Directors with immediate effect.

Sotheby’s have appointed Fru Tholstrup as director of their new London S|2 gallery, to oversee the running and strategy behind this new purpose-built space for private selling exhibitions of Contemporary Art in Mayfair.

Sotheby’s have announced that William S. Sheridan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is leaving the company after 17 years.

At the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers biennial dinner at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge Paul Viney of Woolley & Wallis officially handed over the chairmanship of the association to Helen Carless, managing director of Lawrences Crewkerne.