Auction house Christie’s has announced the appointment of Rahul Kadakia as President of Christie’s Asia Pacific, effective January 2026. In his expanded role, he will also lead the Global Luxury and Asian & World Art Groups. Kadakia, currently International Head of Jewellery, has been with the auction house since 1996.
Bonnie Brennan, Chief Executive Officer of Christie’s, said, “Rahul’s appointment comes at an important moment for the art market in the region. His leadership reflects our commitment to Asia Pacific and our confidence in his ability to guide our teams across Hong Kong, Shanghai, and other key cities.”
Kadakia expressed his gratitude, noting, “I am honoured to accept the new role of President for Christie’s Asia Pacific. Having worked with colleagues in Asia for over three decades, I look forward to moving to Hong Kong to take on this important challenge.”
The appointment comes as Christie’s marks the first anniversary of its Hong Kong headquarters at The Henderson with a series of autumn auctions spanning 20th & 21st Century Art, Asian Art, and Luxury, underscoring its leadership in the region.
In the first half of 2025, Christie’s achieved market-leading results in Asia Pacific, selling seven of the top 10 most valuable lots in the region, including Basquiat’s Sabado por la Noche for $14.5 million and the 35.09-carat Regent Kashmir sapphire for $9.5 million. The APAC market accounted for 40% of global new buyer spend, with strong growth from Mainland China.
Kadakia, born in Mumbai in 1974, began his career at Christie’s London before moving to Geneva, New York, and now Hong Kong. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading auctioneers, he has overseen landmark sales across Jewellery, Watches, Wine, and Fine Art.