London, New York, Hong Kong and Geneva, 18 December 2024 - Phillips has announced that Martin Wilson will succeed Edward Dolman as the company's Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Dolman will continue in his role as Executive Chairman through the end of May 2025, before moving to a consultancy position. The transition marks a considered passing of leadership between two figures who have worked alongside one another for much of their careers, and it draws to a close a decade in which Phillips reshaped its global standing.
Reflecting on the appointment, Martin Wilson paid tribute to his predecessor. "Edward Dolman's extraordinary career has left an enduring legacy in the auction world," he said. "Having worked together across different organisations over the past 16 years, I have seen firsthand how universally respected and admired Mr. Dolman is, both for his ability to build business and for the inspiration he provides to colleagues at every level of the organisation. It has been a privilege to collaborate with him throughout my career, and I look forward to shaping the next chapter of Phillips together."
A decade of expansion under Edward Dolman
Since joining Phillips as CEO in 2014, Mr. Dolman guided the company through a period of impressive expansion, tripling its annual sales total and broadening its digital and global footprint. Under his leadership, Phillips recruited a team of internationally respected senior experts and executives, greatly expanded its network of regional offices and representatives across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and opened new headquarters in Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, and Paris, among others.
His strategic foresight led to the broader expansion of the business into Asia, establishing Phillips as a major competitor in the region with the opening of a sales room in Hong Kong and the debut of the firm's new headquarters in the WKCDA Tower in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District in 2023, a first for any Western auction house. Mr. Dolman also led the formation of the Modern & Contemporary Art department, combining Modern, Post-War, and Contemporary art in sales aligned to the taste of a new community of global collectors.
Beyond the salesroom, he launched a market-leading international Watch department, in association with Bacs & Russo, created a Private Sales team, and transformed Jewels into a driving force in the luxury industry. He also led an unprecedented period of digital expansion through a "digital-first" approach, including the launch of an app, highly produced livestreams of auctions, online sales, and other technology-led innovations underpinning the firm's infrastructure.
Prior to joining Phillips, Mr. Dolman served as Director of the office of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Authority, and in 2012 he was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Museums. Before his tenure in Qatar, he spent twenty-seven years at Christie's, starting as a porter, then specialist, advancing to Chief Executive Officer, a role in which he served for eleven years before stepping into his final role as Chairman of the Board of Christie's International. He was awarded the Légion d'Honneur as Chevalier in May 2007, and in 2011 was elevated to the distinguished position of Officier de la Légion d'Honneur. He has also served as a board member of several organizations, including the International Advisory Board of Qatar Museums, the Governing Board of the Courtauld Institute, the Seoul International Business Advisory Council, and Sailors for the Sea, an environmental non-profit.
Martin Wilson takes the helm
Martin Wilson steps into the role of CEO with nearly three decades of experience in the international art and auction business. A leading lawyer in the field, he has served on Phillips' Executive Board since 2019 as Chief Legal Officer, responsible for the company's global legal and compliance function. Before joining Phillips in 2018, he had a successful twenty-year career at Christie's, providing legal, financial, commercial, and strategic advice to global executive and leadership teams.
Throughout his career, his leadership and expertise have been instrumental in securing and executing high-profile sales and managing important client relationships, and he has been a key member of the Phillips Executive team. As CEO, his management skills, strategic approach, and deep understanding of the art market are expected to prove invaluable as Phillips continues to innovate and expand its capabilities. Mr. Wilson is the founder of the Art Lawyers Association, holds law degrees from the Sorbonne and King's College, London, and is the author of the legal textbook Art Law and the Business of Art.
Phillips offers dedicated expertise in Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels, as a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works. Its auctions and exhibitions are primarily held in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, with representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States, and Asia.
(Press Release)
