Patricia Barbizet to be Christie's first woman CEO

New York

CHRISTIE'S International plc, the world's largest auction house by sales, named Patricia Barbizet its first woman chief executive officer as it announced that Steven Murphy will step down from the post.

Mr Murphy, 60, will leave Christie's at the end of the year, the London-based company said on Tuesday, less than two weeks after the leader of rival Sotheby's announced his resignation. Ms Barbizet, 59, is chairman of Christie's and CEO of Artemis SA, the holding company that is owned by the French billionaire Francois Pinault and that acquired the auction house in 1998. Ms Barbizet will retain her chairman title.