LONDON.- Leading auction house Bonhams has appointed Daniel Struyf to the newly created role of International Jewellery Director.

Daniel’s role will see him working directly with Bonhams’ Global CEO and Global Head of Jewellery Matthew Girling. One of Daniel’s key briefs will be to further expand the company’s market share in the sector and also enhance the work its existing 30-strong dedicated jewellery team is conducting at a national and international level.

During his jewellery career to date, Daniel has lived in ten countries and worked in the three major jewellery hubs around the world. As a result, he has gained an enviable reputation in the jewellery business given his excellent track record. This includes being a pivotal member of the Christie’s jewellery team in New York, Hong Kong and Geneva, Olympic Diamond Corporation in New York and Hong Kong, and also working for the world’s oldest diamond company Backes & Strauss in Antwerp.

Daniel holds a Degree in Middle Eastern Studies from NIAASC, Cairo, a Masters of Law (LLM), International Law/Relations from Lancaster University, UK, a Master of Arts, Arab and Islamic Studies from University of Leuven, Belgium, and speaks six languages fluently.

Matthew Girling, Global CEO of Bonhams and Global Director of Jewellery, comments: “As our clients are based all around the world and our business continues to grow at a global level, it was apparent that we needed someone wholly dedicated to focusing on jewellery at an international level in order to meet our ambitious plans for the future.

“Daniel is an astute operator and has a brilliant understanding of the global jewellery marketplace and the auction business. He is a real talent and we are confident that with Daniel on board we will further enhance our existing offering and continue our strong growth globally.”

Bonhams is a key player in the international jewellery auction market given it sells more jewellery than any other auction house globally. It also holds more than 40 dedicated jewellery sales each year.

Daniel will start his new role on September 21st and begins his first month with Bonhams Fine Jewellery sale in London on 24 September followed by Bonhams Fine Jewellery sale in New York on 13 October. He will be based in Bonhams New York.

Matthew Girling adds: “The US is still the largest single global jewellery marketplace so it makes sense for Daniel to be based in New York. Plus, given the US is home to many mature collections that were put together in the boom decades of the 1950s and 1960s, we anticipate that these will come into the secondary market over the coming years and a further strengthened presence in this market will of course help.”

As part of his new role, Daniel will also work closely with the three regionals department heads of jewellery at Bonhams: Jean Ghika, Director of Jewellery UK and Europe; Graeme Thompson, Director of Jewellery, Asia; and Susan Abeles, Vice President, Jewellery Department, US.

Matthew Girling will retain his role as Global Head of Jewellery and will continue to take Bonhams’ annual Fine Jewellery auctions in Hong Kong, London and New York with the support of Daniel.

Daniel Struyf, International Jewellery Director, Bonhams, says: “I’m delighted to be joining Bonhams in this newly created role and am looking forward to really growing the business at an international level.

“It’s going to be very exciting working with a truly well-established team given Bonhams has more dedicated jewellery specialists than any other international auction house. I’m looking forward to channeling this expertise and continuing to build upon the excellent reputation that Bonhams has in the market already.”

Bonhams jewellery is performing extremely well and the department is on track for another solid year according to Matthew Girling. He says: “The market is particularly strong for coloured stones, coloured diamonds and signed jewellery as well as 1960s and 1970s jewellery.

“We are seeing continued growth across Europe, the US and Asia. Daniel’s appointment could not come at a better time for Bonhams.”