High-ranking Frieze executive Rebecca Ann Siegel, who serves as director of Americas and content for the media and events company, is stepping down. She will leave her post in August.

Siegel, who declined to comment on her future plans, had a fast rise at Frieze. (Sources suggest she will be taking time off before making her next move.) She joined as publisher in 2018 after co-founding and editing the arts magazine Even. In November 2020, she took over leadership of Frieze New York and Frieze Los Angeles after longtime global director Victoria Siddall stepped back to take on a new role of board chair. 

“I’m incredibly excited for the 2022 that Frieze has planned and I think there are incredible initiatives to take forward,” Siegel told Artnet News. “I’m very proud of the work we did over the last two and a half years and more specifically the last 18 months.” 

Siegel is the second high-level fair executive to announce her departure in as many weeks. Art Basel director of Americas Noah Horowitz submitted his letter of resignation to fair management after six years in the position. And Loring Randolph, the former artistic director of Frieze New York, left her post in August 2020.

Frieze returned in May at the Shed in Manhattan. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

The first (and now, only) IRL Frieze fair helmed by Siegel took place at the Shed in New York in May. It was one of the first fairs to proceed in person following the onset of the pandemic. Far smaller than usual and an elaborate logistical feat, it was well received by dealers and collectors.

During her tenure, Siegel also hired a new editor-in-chief of the magazine, Andrew Durbin, and secured a new venue for Frieze Los Angeles, which will resume in February 2022 in a cavernous tent at 9900 Wilshire Boulevard, adjacent to the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

“On behalf of everyone at Frieze, I want to thank Rebecca for everything she has achieved over the past few years,” Victoria Siddall said in a statement. “I have greatly admired her work on the magazine and it has been a real pleasure working with her on Frieze New York and Frieze Los Angeles.”

In a message to colleagues, Siegel said that Frieze New York will be “in the excellent hands” of Kristell Chadé and Los Angeles will be helmed by Romilly Stebbings. A spokesperson for the company said Frieze is in the process of recruiting a new director of Americas.