Half Of Phillips Executive Leadership Team Departs

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Half of Phillips' four-person executive leadership team has departed the auction house, alongside several other high-ranking employees, following the May sales. Among the most senior exits are Miety Heiden, chairman of private sales, and Jonathan Crockett, chairman for Asia. Both are slated to officially leave their positions next month. Mr. Crockett's departure was initially reported by Art Asia Pacific and The Baer Faxt newsletter.

Previously, the executive leadership team consisted of Ms. Heiden, Mr. Crockett, Robert Manley, chairman and worldwide head of modern and contemporary art, and Marianne Hoet, head of business development and chairman of Europe. This quartet reported to chief executive Martin Wilson, who assumed the top role in 2024 after Ed Dolman stepped down to establish his own consultancy. Additionally, deputy CEO Amanda Lo Iacono resigned in December 2024. Mr. Wilson, who joined Phillips in 2019 as chief legal officer after 20 years at Christie's, remains with the company, as do Mr. Manley, who came to Phillips in 2016, and Ms. Hoet, who joined in 2017.

This summer has also seen other high-level departures. Deputy chairman and senior international specialist Scott Nussbaum left in June, while deputy chairman and head of business development Vivian Pfeiffer departed in August, according to their LinkedIn profiles. Meiling Lee, a Taiwan-based senior international specialist for 20th-century and contemporary art since 2017, submitted her resignation this past week. These exits occurred after Phillips' marquee May sales in New York, which generated $145.6 million, marking a 90 percent year-over-year increase by lot. The modern and contemporary evening sale alone achieved $115.2 million, resulting in a rare“white-glove” sale where all lots found buyers. These departures precede the upcoming fall sales, which begin in London in October during Frieze Week.

Art adviser Gabriella Palmieri expressed concern regarding the departures, stating:“I've had a strong relationship with Phillips and that relationship was with the people there. How can you secure confidence from your clients if you can't secure confidence from your team?”

A Phillips spokesperson responded to ARTnews in an email:“Phillips' priority firmly remains on delivering uninterrupted performance for our clients and building on the strong momentum we've achieved across the business. We are continuing to see new talent come through the organization and there is an increased focus on the next generation and rising talent. We remain committed to continual investment in our people and capabilities, ensuring we have the expertise and resources to serve our clients at the highest level.”

The auction house recently hired Annie Wallington as senior specialist and head of modern art in London in July. Other changes in April include India Phillips, who was hired as managing director for modern and contemporary art in Europe; Rebekah Bowling, promoted to senior specialist and head of 21st-century art; Cherry Lam, elevated to general manager of Asia; and Kristen Yraola, who joined as global head of digital marketing after two years at Joopiter.

Behind the Departing Rainmakers

Ms. Heiden joined Phillips in 2017 as deputy chairman and head of private sales, following 18 years at Sotheby's. She was promoted to chairman of private sales in May 2025, concurrent with Mr. Manley's elevation, after the exits of Cheyenne Westphal, global chairwoman for eight years, and Jean-Paul Engelen, president of the Americas and co-head of modern and contemporary art for 10 years. At the time of her promotion, Phillips noted that its annual private sales had grown by 46 percent under Ms. Heiden's leadership. The Phillips spokesperson commented:“During her tenure, [Heiden] has played an important role in Phillips' growth and success, helping to shape and expand our Private Sales division through her vision, dedication, and leadership. We are deeply grateful for her hard work and many contributions. She leaves behind a talented and highly capable team that is well positioned to continue building on this strong foundation. Everyone at Phillips extends their sincere thanks to Miety and wishes her every success in the future.”

Mr. Crockett started at Phillips in 2016 as head of 20th century and contemporary art and deputy chairman of Asia. Ms. Lee, who previously managed Taiwanese collector Pierre Chen's Yageo Foundation, joined the following year. Their hirings were seen as expanding Phillips' presence in the Asian market, which the auction house entered with a Hong Kong outpost in 2015. The Phillips spokesperson added:“Since joining Phillips in 2016, Jonathan Crockett has played an important role in establishing and growing the company's presence across Asia and helping build a strong foundation for long-term growth. Phillips is very well positioned to continue serving its important and established community of clients across the region, with an experienced leadership team, deep specialist expertise and the strength of our global network. We thank Jonathan for his contribution and look forward to exploring opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

In 2023, Phillips appointed Ms. Lee as the new head of its 20th-century and contemporary art department in Asia, relocating her from Taiwan to Hong Kong. She succeeded Mr. Crockett, who then focused on his Asia chairman role and“the region's overall development with the house's global management,” according to Artnet News. Ms. Lee is credited with playing a key role in Phillips' 2022 sale of Jean-Michel Basquiat's 16-foot-long painting, Untitled ( 1982 ), to billionaire Yusaku Maezawa for $85 million.

Ms. Pfeiffer, the deputy chairman and head of business development, joined Phillips in 2017 after 24 years at Christie's. Her LinkedIn profile indicates she is now the founder and principal of VB Art Advisory. Mr. Nussbaum, another former deputy chairman, had been with the house's 20th-century and contemporary art department since 2016. Other departures include chief financial officer Annette Schwaer, with the company since 2013, and Jennifer Jones, senior vice president and senior director for trusts, estates, and valuations since 2016. Carolina Lanfranchi, based in Milan, also left Phillips a year ago; she had been a specialist since 2015 and became regional director in 2023 when Phillips opened a Milan space.

Source: ARTnews

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