NEW HEAD OF WINE AND PR FOR BONHAMS NEW YORK
The Directors of Bonhams are pleased to announce the appointment of Rik Pike, as Wine & Spirits and Public Relations Director to Bonhams New York. Pike joins the company on 1 February 2010. Whom You Know congratulates Rik!
In 1997, after completing an M.A. degree in Art History from St. Andrews University in Scotland, Rik Pike joined Christie’s in London and studied the Advanced Certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) while a Junior Wine Specialist. He then traveled to Australia where he helped to produce the 2000 vintage at Charles Melton Wines in the Barossa Valley.
In 2001, Pike re-joined Christie’s where he worked for seven years in the Public Relations department in both London and more recently in the New York office, rising to Assistant Vice President, Senior Public Relations Manager. In America he managed eight departments and ran high profile auction campaigns including Marlon Brando, Star Trek, Steve McQueen’s Ferrari, Turner’s Giudecca and Christie’s LIVE™, the new online bidding feature.
Throughout this time, Pike was closely involved with the Wine Department, rising to International Public Relations Manager for the Department. He worked on many prestigious wine sales including offerings from Chateau Latour in Europe, the first Evening Sales in the USA, the re-launch of wine auctions in Asia and the first New York Spirits auction since Prohibition. In September 2008, following his first passion, Pike became an Associate Wine Specialist at Christie’s New York, and was awarded his WSET Diploma by the end of the year. During his time with the Department, Pike curated a Spirits auction offering in November 2009 and oversaw the sale of wines from the cellars of Manhattan cultural and culinary landmark‘21’ Club.
Malcolm Barber, CEO, Bonhams &Butterfields, said, “Rik has developed a unique skill set after ten years in the auction house world, a thorough understanding of public relations as well as a wine specialisation, both of which will be a great asset to Bonhams. We are happy to welcome such a qualified addition to our New York office.”
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further four throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.
