14/11/2001

Christie’s has announced it is cutting 20 jobs at its second largest US office, in Los Angeles. The cuts, which account for half of the LA workforce are in response to a fall in profits and the current court action against itself and Sotheby’s in New York. The announcement follows 21 redundancies made in October at Christie’s, New York and a further 40 redundancies scheduled for December at the company’s offices in Athens, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London and Oslo. The axing of jobs in Los Angeles will force the reduction of sales held in the US, with no more auctions in post-war and contemporary art on the Pacific coast. The new schedule will consist of two sales of Californian paintings, two wine sales and a car sale. Christie’s plan to use the Los Angeles office as a source point for the New York and European markets. (Andrew Moore)