Lower than three years in the past, Stephen Brooks was chosen to steer Phillips and spearhead the worldwide development of the third-largest public sale home. He reportedly resigned, efficient this month, citing private causes.in a press release artwork informationA Phillips spokesman stated his resignation had nothing to do with falling gross sales on the public sale home In 2023, Phillips reported a 15% drop in gross sales from the earlier 12 months, when the corporate hit a document $1.3 billion in gross sales.
A spokesman stated Phillips govt chairman Ed Dolman will now take over administration of the worldwide enterprise, having beforehand served as CEO from 2014 to 2021 artwork information.
“Stephen has led the corporate via a interval of extraordinary development throughout his tenure, and his contributions have helped lay the infrastructure for Phillips’ continued success,” Dorman stated. artwork information in a press release. “I thank him for his many contributions to the corporate and need him the most effective.”
Brooks, who joined Phillips in 2021, stated on the time that he appeared ahead to “serving to Phillips understand the corporate’s important development potential within the coming years.” Throughout his tenure, the public sale home weathered quite a lot of storms, together with coronavirus lockdowns, market weak spot and the Ukrainian invasion, which put strain on Phillips and its Russian proprietor Mercury.
Phillips expanded in Asia underneath Brooks. In 2022, it cooperated with Beijing Yongle Public sale Home to conduct a sequence of auctions. Final 12 months, the corporate additionally opened its new Hong Kong headquarters.
Whereas Brooks is on the helm, Phillips additionally continues to pursue different gross sales fashions. Final 12 months, the public sale home launched a brand new major market gross sales mannequin, “launching” a sequence of specifically commissioned works for assortment every month via its on-line Dropshop portal.It has additionally organized gross sales exhibitions in response to rising market demand, together with a Ghanaian artwork exhibition and a Native American modern artwork exhibition in London in early 2022 Opening this month in New York.
Previous to becoming a member of Phillips, Brooks served as a senior govt at Christie’s, the place he spent 11 years in roles together with chief working officer and deputy chief govt.
