Auction house Christie’s, which abandoned the classic car market nearly two decades ago, has swept back into it with an agreement to acquire Gooding & Company. The deal is likely to close at the end of the year, after which the Gooding & Company will become known as Gooding Christie’s.
Company principal David Gooding – who founded his Santa Monica-based auction house in 2003, having previously served with both Christie’s and RM – will stay on as President. He will be supported by Rupert Banner, who has joined Gooding & Company from Bonhams, having also previously been part of the Christie’s team before it was disbanded.
Gooding Christie’s will be the automotive leg of Christie’s global enterprises, allowing Gooding access to an enhanced global platform to support its future growth and brand development.
Guillaume Cerutti, Christie’s Chief Executive Officer says: ‘Christie’s has long admired Gooding & Company and their way of doing business. The legacy that David Gooding and his team have built over the past two decades is well admired by collectors internationally and we could not be more honoured to welcome them into the Christie’s family. We are confident that the combination of resources will provide many opportunities for significant global growth.’
David Gooding, Co-Founder and President of Gooding & Company comments: ‘When we founded Gooding & Company twenty-one years ago, we built it on the pillars of integrity, quality, and passion within the collector car market. I am proud of our tremendous growth within this industry, and I am confident that our acquisition by Christie’s is the next step in our continued development as a global market leader in this space. I look forward to working with Guillaume and the Christie’s team to achieve the next evolution of the Gooding & Company brand.’
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman of Groupe Artémis says: ‘I am very pleased by the acquisition of Gooding & Company by Christie’s. The ambition and values of David Gooding, and his team, align perfectly with those of Christie’s. They also correspond with those of the other businesses in which the Pinault family has long been invested, in the fields of art and culture, luxury, and lifestyle. We are excited to support the development of Gooding & Company and explore new collaborations.’
