Christie's Reveals New Executive Leadership Changes

With the full backing of the Pinault family and the recommendation of Guillaume Cerutti, Christie’s Board has appointed Bonnie Brennan as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective February 1, 2025.

This leadership change follows Guillaume Cerutti’s new role, entrusted by François Pinault and François-Henri Pinault, to lead a strategic reorganisation of their holding company Artémis, which oversees their art and cultural ventures. As part of this transition, Cerutti will take on the position of President of the Pinault Collection, while continuing to serve as Chairman of Christie’s Board.

Having been at the helm of Christie’s as CEO for 8 years, Cerutti led the company through a period of substantial growth and success, achieving record-breaking auction sales, expanding into new markets, and acquiring key businesses. Notable achievements under his leadership include groundbreaking sales like Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi and the record-setting collections of David Rockefeller and Paul Allen.

Bonnie Brennan, who joined Christie’s in 2012 and has held several leadership roles, will step into her new role as CEO. As Regional President of the Americas since 2021, Brennan has overseen significant growth in the region, with the Americas now representing 48% of global auction sales. With 28 years of experience in the art market, she is credited with securing some of Christie’s most prestigious sales and collections.

François Pinault and François-Henri Pinault shared their enthusiasm for the transition, saying, “Christie’s is a vital part of our portfolio, and we are deeply grateful for Guillaume’s leadership, which has contributed to the company’s success. We are pleased to entrust him with an expanded role overseeing our global art-related initiatives. At the same time, we are excited to welcome Bonnie Brennan as CEO. Her experience and leadership will help Christie’s build on its legacy and continue to excel in the art market.”

Guillaume Cerutti remarked, “It has been a great privilege to lead Christie’s for the past eight years. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I look forward to taking on a broader role. Bonnie is the perfect leader to take Christie’s into the next chapter, and I am confident in her ability to build on the company’s market leadership.”

Bonnie Brennan expressed her excitement about her new role: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Christie’s CEO. It has been a pleasure working with Guillaume, and I am grateful for his continued support as Chairman. Leading Christie’s is an extraordinary opportunity, and I look forward to building on the legacy of connecting art and collectors across the globe.”

Guillaume Cerutti began his career in the art world as Managing Director of the Pompidou Centre and later served as Chief of Staff at the French Ministry of Culture and CEO of Sotheby’s France before joining Christie’s in 2016. During his tenure, Christie’s achieved significant milestones, including the sale of Salvator Mundi in 2017, and continued to grow through strategic moves like the acquisition of Gooding & Co, expansion into new markets, and the launch of Christie’s Ventures.

Bonnie Brennan came to Christie’s after 15 years at Sotheby’s, where she gained extensive experience in business development. Since becoming President of Christie’s Americas, she has overseen landmark sales, such as the collections of Ann and Gordon Getty and Anne H. Bass. Under her leadership, Christie’s has embraced technology and expanded its audience base, attracting younger and more diverse collectors.