LONDON/NEW YORK/HONG KONG/GENEVA – 18 DECEMBER 2024 – Phillips is proud to announce 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.
Martin Wilson stated "Edward Dolman's extraordinary career has left an enduring legacy in the auction world. 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.”
Since joining Phillips as CEO in 2014, Mr. Dolman guided the company through a period of impressive expansion, tripling its annual sales total and expanding its digital and global footprint. Under his leadership, Phillips recruited an outstanding team of internationally respected senior experts and executives, greatly expanded its network of regional offices and representatives in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and opened new headquarters in Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, 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 Phillips' spectacular 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 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. 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.
Mr. Dolman also led an unprecedented period of digital expansion for Phillips 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. In 2012, he was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Museums. Before his tenure at Qatar Museums, Mr. Dolman 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.
Mr. Dolman has been 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 steps into the role of CEO with nearly three decades of experience in the international art and auction business. As a leading lawyer in the field, he is well known and highly experienced in the art world. Since 2019 he has been on Phillips Executive Board, as Chief Legal Officer, responsible for Phillips’ global legal and compliance function.
Before joining Phillips in 2018, Mr. Wilson had a successful twenty-year career at Christie's, and is a familiar figure in the art world, providing legal, financial, commercial, and strategic advice to the global executive and leadership teams.
During his career, his leadership and expertise have been instrumental in securing and executing high-profile sales and managing important client relationships. He has been a key member of the Phillips Executive team. As CEO, Mr. Wilson’s management skills, strategic approach, and deep understanding of the art market will be invaluable as Phillips continues to innovate and expand its capabilities.
Mr. Wilson is the founder of the Art Lawyers Association. He holds law degrees from Sorbonne and King’s College, London, and is also the author of the legal textbook Art Law and the Business of Art.
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ABOUT PHILLIPS
Phillips: where the world’s curious and bold connect with the art, design, and luxury that inspires them. As a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works, Phillips offers dedicated expertise in the areas of Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels. 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. Phillips offers a regular selection of live and online auctions, along with items available for immediate purchase. Phillips also offers a range of services and advice on all aspects of collecting, including private sales and assistance with appraisals, valuations, and financial planning.
Visit phillips.com for further information.
PRESS CONTACTS:
NEW YORK – Jaime Israni, Head of PR and Corporate Communications, Americas jisrani@phillips.com
LONDON – Alexandra Bradley, Head of Press, Europe abradley@phillips.com
HONG KONG – Ingrid Hsu, Public Relations & Communications Director, Asia ingridhsu@phillips.com
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