2nd September 2026 – (Hong Kong) Blue‑chip auction house Phillips is contending with a succession of senior exits ahead of its autumn sales, with multiple executives and specialists leaving since the conclusion of its May auctions. Chair of private sales Miety Heiden and Asia chair Jonathan Crockett are set to depart in September, leaving Robert Manley, chair and worldwide head of modern and contemporary art, and Marianne Hoet, chair of Europe and head of business development, as the remaining executive leaders reporting to chief executive Martin Wilson.
Further departures over the summer include deputy chairman and senior international specialist Scott Nussbaum, deputy chairman and head of business development Vivian Pfeiffer, who left in August, and Taiwan‑based senior international specialist for twentieth‑century and contemporary art Meiling Lee. Industry figures have voiced concern that rapid turnover could unsettle clients ahead of the busy season, even as others describe the changes as part of an operational streamlining and normal adjustments following Wilson’s appointment in 2025.
The reshuffle follows an earlier leadership shift in 2025, when global chair Cheyenne Westphal and Americas president and co‑head of modern and contemporary art Jean‑Paul Engelen departed, after which Heiden was elevated to chair of private sales and Manley to chair of modern and contemporary art. Under Heiden’s tenure, the company’s annual private‑sale activity was said to have risen by 46 per cent. Phillips also pointed to momentum from its May flagship auctions in New York, which achieved a combined total of 145.6 million US dollars, approximately 1.136 billion Hong Kong dollars, with the evening sale of modern and contemporary art realising 115.2 million US dollars and selling all lots offered.
As Phillips prepares to open its autumn series in London in October to coincide with Frieze Week, the company has emphasised continuity, stating that its priority remains delivering uninterrupted performance for clients while bringing through the next generation of talent. Internally, the focus is on reinforcing specialist teams and maintaining vendor and buyer confidence during a period of heightened market attention.