Phillips Appoints Martin Wilson CEO
144Jan. 9, 2025
Phillips last monthrevealedthat it has named Martin Wilson as its new chief executive officer. Wilson fills the role vacated by Edward Dolman, who will continue in the role of executive chairman, one he held concurrent with the CEO position, through May, when he will move to a consultancy role. Wilson had since 2019 served on the Phillips executive board as chief legal officer, ensuring the auction house’s global and legal compliance.
“Edward Dolman’s extraordinary career has left an enduring legacy in the auction world,” said Wilson in a statement. “Having worked together across different organizations over the past sixteen 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 organization. It has been a privilege to collaborate with him throughout my career, and I look forward to shaping the next chapter of Phillips together.”
Joining Phillips as CEO in 2014, Dolman shepherded Phillips through a period of growth, during which annual sales tripled and the auction house expanded its digital and global presence. During his tenure, Phillips expanded into Asia and inaugurated headquarters in cities including Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, and Paris. Dolman also spearheaded the formation of the house’s Modern & Contemporary Art Department, combining modern, postwar and contemporary art under the rubric.
Wilson arrives to his new role with nearly thirty years of experience in the international art and auction business. Prior to his arrival at Phillips, in 2018, he spent two decades at Christie’s, providing legal, financial, commercial, and strategic advice to its global executive and leadership teams. The founder of the Art Lawyers Association, Wilson 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.