Sotheby's Announces Changes to its Watches Leadership Team

Sotheby’s announces changes to its watches leadership team with the appointment of Sam Hines as Chairman of Watches & promotion of Geoff Hess to Global Head of Watches.

NEW YORK, 7 JUNE 2024 – Sotheby's is pleased to announce an exciting new chapter for its global Watches division, with Sam Hines returning to the Company as Chairman, Watches and the promotion of Geoff Hess to the position of Global Head of Watches. Together with their combined expertise spanning over nearly four decades in the watches and auction industries, these respected leaders are poised to drive Sotheby’s continued period of innovation and growth.

Sam and Geoff are two of the most respected figures in the watch community and I’m delighted for them to be taking on these new roles. Their combined talent, vision and energy will drive us to new heights in the watches category globally and is an affirmation of Sotheby’s commitment to innovation, best-in-class client experiences and industry leading expertise.” Josh Pullan, Global Head Of Sotheby’s Luxury Division.

After several years as a consultant and close friend of Sotheby’s, Sam Hines will be returning as Chairman, Watches. With an illustrious career spanning more than twenty years in the luxury watch industry, Sam Hines brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to his new role. As Chairman, Sam will focus on strategies for securing major collections, leveraging his extensive experience in the field as a principal deal maker. In addition to his deep client relationships with major international collectors, Sam will retake the rostrum as principal auctioneer for watches auctions globally. He will also dedicate his time to mentoring the next generation of watch specialists and auctioneers to ensure Sotheby’s maintains the highest quality of expertise in the market. Based in Hong Kong, Sam begins with Sotheby’s at the end of June, in time for the opening of Sotheby’s new Maison at Landmark Chater. He will report directly to the Global Head of Sotheby’s Luxury Division.

I am tremendously excited to return to Sotheby’s – a place that is both familiar and new — as the company continues to chart forward-looking and innovative paths around the world. I look forward to working with Geoff and our talented global team to further strengthen our expertise and sourcing capabilities to meet the rapidly-expanding client base.” Sam Hines, Chairman, Watches.

In his new role as Global Head of Watches, Geoff Hess will continue to bring his collaborative and entrepreneurial mindset to develop and execute a growth strategy for the watch category worldwide, managing the regional leaders across auction, retail and private sales and will proactively maintain his client relationships with the community. Geoff’s strong business acumen, exceptional client relationships and deep commitment to fostering a passionate collecting community make him ideally suited to build an exciting, diverse and innovative watches business that is client-first at its core. Reporting directly to the Global Head of Sotheby’s Luxury Division, Geoff assumes his new role with immediate effect. His promotion follows a series of recent successes with single-owner collections, most recently spearheading the sale of Sylvester Stallone’s watch collection, which was 100% sold with the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime achieving an astounding $5.4 million. Following a back-and-forth bidding battle that lasted four minutes between a total of five bidders, the prized jewel of the Stallone collection is now the third most valuable wristwatch sold in Sotheby’s history, and the highest price achieved for any modern watch sold at Sotheby’s.

It is an honor to assume this new position, as I approach my one-year anniversary at Sotheby’s. Leveraging my managerial experience and knowledge as a dedicated collector and active member of the watch community for decades, I am committed to fostering a team built on collaboration, creativity, and unparalleled expertise. I look forward to working with Sam and our passionate global watches team to provide our clients with the best service possible, and work towards establishing Sotheby’s at the center of watch culture.” Geoff Hess, Global Head of Watches.

Sam rejoins Sotheby’s, where he began his career in 1997. A leading authority in the field, Sam brings over twenty years of experience in the auction market and watch industry, rejoining the company from online watch auctioneer LOUPE THIS where he was named Managing Director in 2022. Formerly, Sam led the international team of Sotheby’s watch specialists as the Worldwide Head of the Watch Division, a role he stepped into in 2017. Previously, Sam was named International Head of Watches for Phillips in 2015. Prior to this, Sam occupied the role of International Co-Head of Christie’s Watches Department and held executive positions in New York and Asia.

Sam has spearheaded some of the most important watch sales of the past 15 years, including the discovery of two previously unknown pocket watches from the legendary collection of James Ward Packard which sold for a combined total of $2.7 million in 2011. Sam was also instrumental in setting the former world auction record for a wristwatch, with the sale of a stainless steel Patek Philippe reference 1518 for CHF 11 million. His track record also includes setting the world record for the most valuable Cartier watch ever sold, with the 1967 Cartier Crash “London” for $1.5m, a pair of Singing Bird Pistols sold for $5.8 million, the most valuable horological object ever sold in Asia, and the sale of the only known Patek Philippe Star Calibre 2000 for $3.5 million.

Geoff joined Sotheby’s in August 2023, bringing with him meaningful years of experience in the global watch industry, with a specific expertise across vintage and modern timepieces, and especially sports watches. Prior to Sotheby’s, Geoff was a Senior International Specialist of Phillips Watches Department in New York. A lawyer by trade, prior to joining Phillips Auction House, Geoff was the CEO of Analog / Shift, a platform for vintage timepieces, and was instrumental in the company’s growth and acquisition by Watches of Switzerland. As a dedicated collector and active member of the watch community for many years, Geoff is the proud founder of the acclaimed ‘Rolliefest’ global gathering in New York, which most recently took place in September 2023. He’s also an Academy Member of the Grand Prix d’Horologerie de Genève (GPHG).