Sotheby's Reduction in Force

Earlier today I posted on some of the planned staff reductions at Christie's. Bloomberg's Lindsay Pollack is reporting on some of the cuts that have taken place at Sotheby's. According to Pollack, the cuts are across the board and are hitting at all levels of the organization. At the end of 2007 Sotheby's employed approximately 1550 employees, with close to 600 in North America.

As appraisers we all have contacts at auctions houses, the reduction in staff at the large international houses is potentially harmful to our profession. If the trend continues and replicates at the level below, we as appraisers may need to start networking again to ensure we have the proper contacts and connections in order to assist our clients.

Pollack states Among those let go are Christopher Gaillard, the head of the contemporary-print department who was considered a rising star as an auctioneer, and John Tancock, the art scholar and a senior vice president.

Sotheby’s staff reductions have cut across departments, seniority levels and offices, according to these employees. Longtime experts in ceramics and French and English furniture were among those fired. About half of the nine jobs in the Los Angeles office were terminated, as well as staffers in the Chicago and Miami offices.

To read the Bloomberg article, click HERE.