Auction House Phillips Names Damien Whitmore Creative Director

Phillips is pleased to announce the appointment of Damien Whitmore as Creative Director effective as of 5 January 2015. Damien will work closely with Edward Dolman as CEO and the senior management team to further strengthen the Phillips brand in support of the next phase of Phillips expansion and development. Working across all geographic locations of the company, Damien will also be involved with programming, exhibitions and corporate sponsorship.

“It is a privilege to be joining Phillips at this important point in the company’s history. I am very much looking forward to working with Edward Dolman and his team and using my experience at TATE and the V&A to help reinforce Phillips as a leading, global brand for contemporary art and culture.” Damien Whitmore, Creative Director.

“We are very excited to welcome Damien to the team, his expertise in the branding of contemporary, design and cultural institutions will help to evolve and develop Phillips and its unique brand internationally as the boundaries between museums, galleries and auction houses continue to merge.” Edward Dolman, Chairman and CEO.

Damien Whitmore began his 25 year career in the visual arts, cutting his teeth in 1990 at the Design Museum as Head of Development. Moving to the TATE Gallery in 1992, Damien was responsible for communications, marketing, branding, visitor services and membership as Communications Director. In 2000 he managed the complete repositioning of the TATE brand and directed the launch of TATE Modern, enabling the gallery to attract 6 million visitors in its first year of opening.  From 2002 to June 2014, as the Director of Public Affairs and Programming at the V&A, Damien oversaw the museums exhibitions and contemporary programmes, the V&A brand, marketing, communications and digital. Under Damien’s guidance the institution was totally transformed into the museum brand it has become internationally recognised for today. He has most recently worked with Prada on the creation if their Fondazione Prada in Milan in the lead up to its unveiling in Spring 2015.