[Artists News] Christie’s Names New CEO to Succeed Guillaume Cerutti

[My baby Sam]

Bonnie Brennan is a veteran of the auction house, and has served in various leadership roles.

 

 

Bonnie Brennan and Guillaume Cerutti. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's
Katya Kazakina
January 15, 2025
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There’s a change of guard at the helm of the world’s leading auction house. Christie’s appointed Bonnie Brennan as its new chief executive officer, the company said today.

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Brennan, 51, replaces Guillaume Cerutti, 58, who served as the company’s CEO for eight years. He will become the president of the Pinault Collection and serve as Christie’s chairman, Christie’s said in a press release. 

Cerutti recommended Brennan’s appointment and it has the “approval and full support of the Pinault family,” Christie’s said. Brennan will take the reins on February 1. Christie’s is owned by French billionaire Francois Pinault through his holding company, Artemis. She is the second woman to lead the auction house, following Patricia Barbizet, who held the role from 2014 to 2016.

Brennan, who joined Christie’s in 2012, has risen through the ranks and serving in various leadership roles. Since 2021, she’s been the president of the Americas, which accounted for 48 percent of all auction sales in 2024. Christie’s total annual sales last year declined 6 percent to $5.7 billion. As CEO, she will oversee Christie’s 1,600 employees and focus on innovation while preserving the company’s heritage, Brennan said during a press conference.

“The global Christie’s team reflects unmatched passion, talent, and dedication to our clients and one another,” Brennan, 51,  said in a statement. “To lead this extraordinary group of people is a privilege that I take very seriously. I look forward to building on our 259-year legacy of connecting exceptional art and objects to passionate audiences.”

Cerutti praised Christie’s team for the various accomplishements during his tenure, including selling 10 artworks for more than $100 million and making a pledge to reduce its carbon footprint. 

“It’s team work and it’s also why it’s extremely important for me to make sure that the transition and the future of this company are kept on the same trajectory,” Cerutti said during the press conference. “Bonnie is the right person for this.”

 

https://news.artnet.com/market/christies-ceo-bonnie-brennan-2598163