Christie’s states that it is delighted to announce two key appointments to its senior management team in the Middle East: Dr. Ridha Moumni has been promoted to the role of Deputy Chairman, Christie’s Middle East & North Africa, effective immediately, and Meagan Kelly Horsman has been named Managing Director, Christie’s the Middle East, joining the company on 23 May 2022.
Christie’s also further added that Anthea Peers, Christie’s new President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, has identified the Middle East market as a strategic priority for the company, and these two core executive announcements underscore Christie’s commitment to deepening its investment in this area.
Christie’s further explained that within their latest role as Deputy Chairman, Middle East & North Africa, Ridha Moumni will assume responsibility for business strategy across the region, with a core focus on the Gulf and North Africa amongst other areas. He will work to expand and enhance Christie’s profile and portfolio of offerings while also promoting the company’s diversified businesses. Ridha was previously Christie’s Senior Client Advisor for the Middle East, joining the company from Harvard University’s Department of Art History, where he was an Aga Khan Fellow.
Christie’s sources further added that Meagan Kelly Horsman also brings to Christie her extensive experience in Collection Management and Development for some of the most important collections in the UAE.
Based in the region since 2010, Ms. Kelly Horsman worked previously in the primary art market, starting her career in the art world at Bonham’s. Meagan has also curated numerous exhibitions, delivered short courses relating to the art sector, and created a curated print fair at Al Serkal Avenue.
Anthea Peers, President of Christie’s EMEA commented: “Joining Christie’s London 16 years ago, I vividly remember the excitement felt ahead of the first auction we held in Dubai, back in May 2006. This expansion and further successes in the region, as we forged relationships throughout the area, remain pivotal for the business, and the Middle East has always been at the forefront of my mind. It’s therefore an even greater pleasure to announce these new management appointments so early in my new role as President, of Christie’s EMEA. There will be further news to come in the weeks and months ahead, underlining the strong investment Christie’s will continue to make in the region going forward.”
Christie’s Dubai office hosts two dedicated specialist departments for watches and Middle Eastern art, as well as a special events team, led by the newly appointed General Manager Itziar Salgado. Additionally, to their core team of colleagues based in Dubai, Christie’s also stated engaging and directing a robust network of consultants throughout the region and receives integral support from senior colleagues across the business, comprising of Dr. Bertold Müller, Managing Director Christie’s EMEA; and a highly skilled team of managers, client advisors, and specialists in Islamic Art, 20th/21st Century Art, Old Masters, and Collections.
Christie also claimed that the convening and serving clients throughout the Middle East at its galleries in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Christie’s Dubai serves as the hub for exceptional timepieces and Middle Eastern 20th and 21st Century Art.
As per the firm’s sources each year Christie’s biannual Dubai Watches auctions consistently achieve exceptional results, including the world record in 2021 for the most expensive watch ever sold at auction in the Middle East: a rare Patek Philippe Ref. 5002P-001 Sky Moon Tourbillon that made history when it sold for the US $1.6 million.
Christie’s further added that it operates to engage and connect with global audiences in London, hosting an annual auction during Frieze Week every October, where distinguished private collections are offered alongside extraordinary works by modern and contemporary masters. In addition to hosting a regular program of Middle Eastern auctions, Christie’s often presents educational and academic initiatives, including exhibitions and seminars throughout the region. To date, Christie’s also has helped to raise more than US$30 million for charities in the Middle East.
In 2021, Christie’s participated in the Riyadh International Book Fair (November) and hosted a selling exhibition of work by African artists from Gallery 1957 at Christie’s Dubai (December). In March of 2022, Christie’s presented two exhibitions at its DIFC galleries during Art Dubai, including Block Party, a non-selling NFT exhibition, and Rock Party, a private selling exhibition. In April, Christie’s Dubai unveiled and announced to the world The Rock– the largest white diamond ever to come to auction.
