Sotheby's Contemporary Department Leaders Drive Global Expansion and Thematic Sales Success

Alexander Rotter and Cheyenne Westphal now lead Sotheby's contemporary art department worldwide, managing an auction network spanning 90 global locations. Their expansion includes emerging markets like Brazil, Argentina, and Qatar. Under their direction, curated and thematic sales have achieved significant results, with September's New York 'Contemporary Curated' sale generating $28.3 million, surpassing expectations. Westphal champions provenance as a critical factor, evidenced by her role in Sotheby's backing of the annual Tate Britain Commission. Recent stability follows the resolution of activist investor Daniel Loeb's costly proxy battle with the board, which sought increased profitability for the company.