Letter from our Managing Partners
As we reflect on 2024, our team is proud of the strides we’ve made in growing SML’s global impact, forging new partnerships, and fulfilling our mission of strengthening businesses and the international art market through candidate placements and data-driven insights.
Whilst challenging market conditions presented uncertainty for many of our clients this year, our team has been on hand to advise and support. We partnered with Convelio to create the Art Operations Talent Report, accompanied by an engaging webinar for their Registrar Connect group, reaching and informing audiences across the UK, US, Europe, and beyond. We also collaborated with the Working Arts Club to host Careers Connect, a unique event offering junior to mid-level art professionals live and direct insights from seasoned experts across the industry.
Additionally, we were honoured to participate in several enriching discussions, including conversations with AWITA and their NXT GEN Group, talks on career progression at the New York Academy of Art, Christie’s Education, and the Courtauld Institute of Art, as well as attending the Sotheby’s Institute career fairs in New York and London.
Our team grew significantly this year, both internally and through exciting partnerships. We welcomed Cathy Elkies as a Non-Executive Director to our Board, hired Lucy Pepper, formerly Associate Director of Sales at Gould Art Advisory, as a Consultant in New York, and partnered with Claire Robertiello as our Business Development Consultant. We also celebrated a milestone by hiring our first intern since before the pandemic, Ajeet Khela, in London, whose fresh perspective was a fantastic addition to our team, taking our socials and community engagement to the next level.
Our work took us across the globe, beyond our home bases in London and New York. We traveled to Berlin, Paris, Luxembourg, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, and Hong Kong, reflecting our commitment to engaging with clients and candidates wherever they are.
Meeting our goals was reason to celebrate, and we marked the occasions with team-building pasta and cocktail-making classes—moments that underscored the camaraderie and spirit of collaboration that always drives us forward.
This quarter, with a view to starting 2025 in the strongest position, we announced a change to our internal structure with myself and Rachel Johnston as Managing Partners, reflecting the symbiosis in our roles and several promotions among our team: Allison Therrien to Director, Client Advisory, Alex Badeni to Director, Business Development, and Robyn Orovwuje-Forbes to Associate Director, Insights & Strategy.
As we close out the year, we are grateful for the relationships and partnerships that have made all of this possible. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to continue collaborating with you in the new year and are excited to release the SML x ArtTactic Art World Talent Report this spring.
Happy holidays, and here’s to an even brighter 2025!
Rosie Allan & Rachel Johnston, Managing Partners
