Christie's announces new management team in Middle East and North Africa

Ridha Moumni was named deputy chairman, while Meagan Kelly Horsman will be joining the company as managing director

Christie's auction house has an outlet in the Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP

Christie’s has announced a new management team for its Middle East wing.

The auction house appointed Ridha Moumni as deputy chairman of Christie’s Middle East and North Africa with immediate effect. Meagan Kelly Horsman will be joining him as managing director on May 23.

Moumni was previously senior client adviser at Christie’s Middle East. He joined from Harvard University's department of art history, where he was an Aga Khan Fellow. In his new role, he will be assuming responsibility for business strategy in the region, with “a strong focus on the Gulf and North Africa amongst other areas”.

In his strategy, Moumni plans to increase the auction house's profile and promote the company’s businesses, including Christie’s International Real Estate, Christie’s Financial Services and Christie’s Education.

Horsman will be joining Christie’s with extensive experience in overseeing some of the most important collections in the UAE. She began her career in the art world at Bonhams and has been working in the region since 2010, having curated numerous exhibitions, delivered short courses relating to the art sector, and created a print fair at Alserkal Avenue.

Anthea Peers, who recently became president of Christie’s Europe, Middle East and Africa, announced the new appointments, saying they come as part of the company’s aim to expand its presence in the region.

“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,” she said.

“This expansion and further successes in the region, as we forged relationships throughout the area, remains 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.”

Further news will be revealed in the coming months, Peers said, underlining the “strong investment Christie’s will continue to make in the region going forward”.