Jonathan was an integral member of the European senior management team and Board Director in several countries. He headed up the European office and auction room network which included Milan, Zurich and Geneva from 2002-2007. In 2002 whilst Chief Operating Officer in Switzerland he managed Sotheby’s Jewellery division from their headquarters in Geneva. He went on to co-ordinate the company’s expansion into emerging markets in Russia/CIS and MENA, opening Sotheby’s Moscow in 2007, and establishing the company’s footprint in Dubai and Doha in 2007/2008.
From 2010 based in London he managed a division of the expert business which included the Russian Art, and Middle Eastern Art, European Paintings, Wine and Sculpture departments. A personal highlight of this period was working in conjunction with the Russian team, to create a selling exhibition entitled ‘At the Crossroads’. This exhibition showcased contemporary art from the Caucasuses and Central Asia.
As Chief Operating Officer of this international fine art advisory group, Jonathan worked with the executive chairman to restructure the UK business including a focus on contemporary art and jewellery. In addition, he managed the representative office in Delhi, India. He also instigated and oversaw the development of new gallery space in the company’s Pall Mall offices, creating a calendar of selling exhibitions and events.
With the development and opportunities of the online art market giving access to a wider global audience, and with a keen commercial interest and curiosity, Jonathan joined The Auction Room, one of the first online selling and buying platform for fine art and antiques. He was responsible for the creation and implementation of an online strategy for developing markets in the Middle East and Africa.
Working as an external consultant Jonathan provided strategic business advice to this European auction house, during a time of significant change in the international market.
Jonathan advised the leading auction house in Nigeria, ArtHouse, on how to successfully develop its position within the international art market.