Sotheby’s Names Head of Watches for Americas Region

Sotheby’s has appointed veteran watch industry executive Geoff Hess as senior vice president and head of watches for the Americas.

He will be based in New York and charged with accelerating growth in the watch category, the auction house said last week.

Hess is an avid watch collector as well as an industry professional. Most recently, he served as international specialist for Phillips’s watches department in New York. Before joining Phillips, he was the CEO of online vintage and pre-owned watch retailer Analog:Shift.

Hess is the founder of Rolliefest, a Rolex-centric exclusive gathering of the world’s most prominent watch collectors. He’s also an academy member of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), which oversees the most prestigious watch awards event.

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“As an internationally respected curator with long-standing experience and deep commitment to fostering a passionate collecting community, Geoff brings unmatched gravitas, scholarship and strong relationships to our Americas team,” said Josh Pullan, head of the global luxury division at Sotheby’s.

The appointment follows a record year for the Sotheby’s watch division. Worldwide auction sales in 2022 increased 22% to $179 million.

Main image: Geoff Hess. (Sotheby’s)