James Marks has been named global head of private sales and retail for Sotheby’s watch business, the auction house announced today.
Marks joins Sotheby’s after two years as CEO of independent watch brand Biver. Prior to that, he spent six years at Phillips, where he served as deputy chairman of that auction house’s watches division and international head of Phillips Perpetual.
In those roles, Marks helped develop Phillips’ private sales business across physical and e-commerce platforms and contributed to the opening of retail boutiques in cities including London, Zurich, Gstaad, and Hong Kong. At Biver, he oversaw the company’s expansion in markets such as the Middle East and North America and led initiatives in digital commerce and content, contributing to revenue growth.
Earlier in his career, Marks worked in finance, including roles in investment banking, wealth management, and hedge fund portfolio management at Merrill Lynch and BNP Paribas.
Sotheby’s said Marks will focus on scaling its private sales offerings, strengthening supplier partnerships, and enhancing the client experience. He will be based in Geneva and work alongside senior leaders in the watches division, including chairman Sam Hines and global head of watches Geoff Hess.
Marks’ appointment is part of Sotheby’s efforts to grow its global watch operations. The auction house continues to invest in luxury categories, including watches, following strong sales in those markets in Hong Kong, Geneva, and elsewhere.
The JCK News Desk uses AI to help research and produce the first draft of articles. This story was then reviewed by staff writer David Blomquist.
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