There’s a change of guard at the helm of the world’s leading auction house. Christie’s appointed Bonnie Brennan as its new Chief Executive Officer, the company said today.

Brennan replaces Guillaume Cerutti, who served as the company’s CEO for eight years. He will become the president of the Pinault Collection and continue to serve as Christie’s chairman, Christie’s said in a press release. 

Cerutti recommended Brennan’s appointment and it has the “approval and full support of the Pinault family,” Christie’s said. Brennan will take the reins on February 1. Christie’s is owned by French billionaire Francois Pinault through his holding company, Artemis. She is the second woman to lead the auction house, following Patricia Barbizet, who held the role from 2014 to 2016.

Brennan, who joined Christie’s in 2012, has risen through the ranks and serving in various leadership roles. Since 2021, she’s been the president of the Americas, which accounted for 48 percent of all auction sales in 2024. Christie’s total annual sales last year declined 6 percent to $5.7 billion.

“The global Christie’s team reflects unmatched passion, talent, and dedication to our clients and one another,” Brennan said in a statement. “To lead this extraordinary group of people is a privilege that I take very seriously. I look forward to building on our 259-year legacy of connecting exceptional art and objects to passionate audiences.”