Sotheby’s begins agency search

Sotheby’s, the London auction house, is reviewing its advertising account through the AAR. It is believed to have shortlisted five agencies to pitch for the business.

Sotheby’s, which rivals Christie’s as Britain’s leading auction house, is not thought to have an incumbent agency. Its last agency of note, G3, was hired in August 1999 to extend its marketing activities, which included the launch of an online service.

Sotheby’s has traditionally handled advertising in-house.

Sotheby’s is the world’s oldest international auction house in continuous operation and was founded in London in 1744. It also has a New York office. The company was bought by American millionaire Alfred Taubman in 1983, who took it public in 1998.

It is not known which agencies have been approached to pitch for its UK advertising account.