NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s today announced that Alfredo Gangotena, a veteran marketing executive with an accomplished record of creating, managing and promoting global brands, has been named Chief Marketing Officer of the Company.

Mr. Gangotena joins Sotheby’s from MasterCard Worldwide, where he most recently was the Chief Marketing Officer. During his tenure, MasterCard was the #1 global brand in terms of ranking growth from 2009-2013, according to Millward Brown BrandZ. Mr. Gangotena joined MasterCard in 2004 as General Manager for the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa Region, and was then appointed General Manager for Continental Europe and Global Products & Solutions lead for Europe.

Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison-Priceline in Asia/Pacific, the internet travel joint-venture company of the Hutchison Group and Priceline.com. He also served as President and Executive Chairman of the Asia/Pacific Region for the Henkel Group of Germany. Prior to that, Mr. Gangotena held senior general management positions with the Procter & Gamble Company, served as Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music-PolyGram in France, and also as Senior Vice President and Marketing Director for the Disneyland Theme Park in Paris for the Walt Disney Company.

Mr. Gangotena will serve as Sotheby’s brand steward and lead an integrated worldwide effort encompassing all the Company’s communications platforms. He will assume his duties early in 2014.

“We’re very happy to welcome Alfredo to Sotheby’s. He will be responsible for shaping and delivering Sotheby’s brand message globally – what we say through digital, advertising, catalogues, the press and philanthropy,” said Chief Operating Officer Bruno Vinciguerra. “He is well-versed in strategic brand positioning that’s focused on affluent clients, has led digital efforts to drive revenue opportunities and build brand and customer engagements, and he has deep experience working in Asia, Europe and the U.S.”

Raised in France, Germany and Ecuador, Mr. Gangotena completed his graduate studies in France and the United States. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Lang Lang Music Foundation and of the U.S. Advertising Council and is a Governing Co-Chairman of the CMO Collective. He has had a life-long passion for art.

Amy Todd Middleton, Worldwide Director of Marketing, in January will take on projects for Mr. Vinciguerra and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ruprecht, including an initiative on new client cultivation.

“Amy has been a strong advocate for the Sotheby’s brand, culminating this year in our re-branding initiative and the successful re-launch of our web site and the tremendous (RED) Auction that raised $26.2 million for The Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa,” said Mr. Vinciguerra.