When I caught up with Charlie Horne, president of the appraisal and advisory firm Gurr Johns, he was on his way to the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning in Orlando. Heckerling, as the gathering is known in the industry, is about as exciting as you’d imagine for a conference of estate lawyers and bankers—but the event does offer an essential glad-handing opportunity for auction houses and appraisal firms. Charlie will no doubt be touting the news that Maarten ten Holder is joining Gurr Johns as C.E.O. to oversee the firm’s growth strategy, first in the U.S. and then globally.
Ten Holder spent nearly 25 years at Sotheby’s, shuttling back and forth in operational roles between Europe and New York before taking over the global luxury business and then the classic car division after the acquisition of RM. Most recently, he was at Bonhams for three years heading up its very British “Motoring department.” He arrived at Gurr Johns last week after a six-month gardening leave.
