Museum and Corporate Collection Services

Samantha is Director and Head of Museum and Corporate Collection Services for Christie’s in the Americas. She works with specialists, executives, and regional teams across categories to develop strategies and provide support for her clients in both North and South America. Her work ranges from facilitating auction and private sales, appraisals, client engagement, sponsorships, programing, fundraising, and much more. Since joining Christie’s in 2008, Samantha has held leadership roles in both the Marketing and Business Development fields, overseeing teams in the Americas and globally. She has worked on strategy for many of Christie’s most notable private and institutional collections sold at auction.

Ben identifies and delivers business development opportunities with museums and non-profits for Christie’s across the Americas. He works with clients internally and externally at all levels to define Christie’s strategy—both national and regional—for working with non-profit institutions to mutual benefit. Collaborating with colleagues across the company, he builds and develops relationships with institutions to promote their work to Christie’s audiences and to cultivate their patrons through sponsorships, fundraising auctions, events, and programs. He is also one of the leaders of Christie’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion programs in the Americas and oversees efforts for the company to actively use its position in the artworld to better amplify under-represented voices and support positive cultural change.

Prior to joining Christie’s in July 2017, his extensive experience in the museum world included serving as Associate Director of SculptureCenter, a contemporary art museum in Long Island City; Director of Individual Development, Membership and Annual Fund at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; Associate Director of Development for Membership at the New Museum of Contemporary Art; and Patrons Manager at Tate in his native London. He has a BA in Art History from the University of Birmingham and a post-graduate degree in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester.

Katherine (Kate) Mandel has been with Christie’s Museum and Corporate Collection Services team since 2016. In her role as Manager, she is responsible for strategic and logistical oversight of all consignments and appraisals on behalf of non-profit institutions and corporate collections. During her tenure at Christie’s, Kate has helped to facilitate the sale of over $900 million in works of art on behalf of these clients.

Prior to joining Museum Services, Kate was a member of Christie’s Trusts, Estates & Appraisals team in New York and has worked in various administrative, public relations and editorial roles for non-profit arts institutions around the world. She is a founding member of Christie’s Mental Health Employee Resource Group and sits on the company’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee. She holds a BA in Art History from New York University.

Elaine MacDermot has been at Christie’s since 2018, most recently looking after Client Engagement in EMEA. Within this role she is the point person for Christie’s Corporate Museum Relationships, including Museum Access and Events in the UK and across EMEA. Prior to joining Client Engagement Elaine was in the Marketing team in London and previously worked within Executive search for five years in London. She holds an MA from the University of Edinburgh.