Clarice Pecori Giraldi is joining Phillips as the regional director for Italy, bolstering company efforts to expand internationally. The news comes just days after the house announced that Dina Amin had been hired as the senior director and head of the 20th century and contemporary art department in Europe.
Both women come to Phillips from Christie’s, where Amin was senior director and senior specialist for post-war and contemporary art and Pecori Giraldi as head of private sales in Europe. Over her more than two decades at the company, Amin had held a variety of other posts, including business development manager for the Middle East, while Pecori Giraldi spent 10 years with Christie’s, including seven as managing director for Italy.
“Italy has always been one of the world’s most important centers of art and will become an increasingly important market for Phillips,” said CEO Edward Dolman in a statement. He praised Pecori Giraldi’s ability to help the company “provide clients throughout Europe the best service across all of the collecting areas in which we specialize,” while noting that “Dina will help us increase our presence across Europe and the Middle East while adding considerable expertise to our London auctions.”
Dina Amin. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan.
Over the past year, Phillips has expanded its scope considerably; it has opened a Hong Kong office and hired regional directors or specialists in Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Seattle, Mexico City, Cologne, Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei.
Among those appointments was that earlier this month of Cândida Sodré, previously head of Christie’s Rio de Janeiro office, as Phillip’s regional director for Brazil. January has also seen Vivian Pfeiffer jump ship from Christie’s—where she was head of business development—to Phillip’s, where she signed on in a similar role. The recent influx of Christie’s veterans is likely due to the influence of Dolman, who worked for the house for 27 years, and has been with Phillip’s since 2014.
In addition, last week Phillips promoted Peter Sumner to deputy chairman, Europe, and senior international specialist, 20th century and contemporary art. Over his years with the auction house, Sumner had risen from head of contemporary art day sale to head of the 20th century and contemporary art department in London. In his new role, he will work with the company’s European clients, with the same focus on contemporary and 20th-century art.