Phillips announced today that it has appointed Jonathan Crockett to the role of head of 20th century and contemporary art, and deputy chairman of Asia. He will assume his new role on May 9.

In a statement today, Phillips said the appointment is part of its ongoing commitment to expansion in the Asian market. Crockett, who was formerly at Sotheby’s, will now be based in Hong Kong and will work alongside Jean-Paul Engelen, the auction house’s worldwide head of contemporary art, and Hugues Joffres, who serves as chairman of Europe and UK, as well as worldwide head of contemporary art.

“The importance of Asia to our 20th-Century and contemporary art sales internationally and to our overall growth strategy cannot be overstated,” remarked Phillips CEO Edward Dolman in a release. “The collecting of contemporary art in Asia has been growing at a spectacular rate and we are seeing more Asian collectors at our London and New York sales,” Dolman added.

Among other recent Phillips appointments in Asia, the auction house named Charlotte Raybaud as a specialist in 20th-century and contemporary art in Hong Kong. Earlier Philllips appointed Kyoko Hattori as the regional representative in Japan. Phillips expects to continue adding specialists to its 20th century and contemporary art team in Hong Kong in coming months.

To some observers, the expansion in Asia might seem to come at a strange moment. Recent data included in the annual TEFAF report, assembled by Dr. Clare McAndrew for Arts Economics, saw a significant decline in the Chinese market, with with sales dropping 23 percent, to $11.8 billion.

Before joining Phillips, Crockett held several roles at Sotheby’s, most recently as director of Asia and senior specialist in contemporary Asian art in London until 2013.  In between stints there, Crockett owned his own art advisory business in Hong Kong.

Crockett is also known to be an adept scuba diver, having taken part in the same dive with artist Trevor Paglen trip that artnet News’ own Brian Boucher went on during this past edition of Art Basel in Miami Beach.