NEW YORK, NY.- Phillips announced the expansion of the company’s presence within the Americas. Carol Ehlers has been appointed Regional Director for the Chicago & Midwest, Vice President and Photographs Specialist. As Regional Director, Ms. Ehlers will partner with Phillips specialists across all departmental categories to support the auction house’s business development efforts. As a Specialist, she will continue working with the Photographs team, for which she has consulted previously, facilitating the department’s consistent growth.

Lauren Peterson will also join Phillips’ Chicago office as Regional Representative, Associate Vice President, Chicago & Midwest, beginning on 11 October. In her role, Ms. Peterson will work with specialists across the company to spearhead business getting for Phillips’ worldwide sales and assist with business development opportunities in the Americas.

Vivian Pfeiffer, Head of Business Development and Deputy Chairman, Americas, said, “We are delighted that Carol and Lauren are joining Phillips and helping us expand our reach in the American Midwest, an increasingly significant region for the art market. Their long-standing experiences in the area will prove invaluable to our growing team. By expanding our presence in the Americas, we will position ourselves to work with collectors more efficiently across all of our company initiatives.”

Prior to joining Phillips, Ms. Peterson worked for 11 years in Christie’s Midwest Regional office, where she served most recently as an Account Manager.

Prior to Ms. Ehlers’ recent appointment as Regional Director for the Chicago & Midwest, Vice President and Photographs Specialist, she served for six years as a consultant for Phillips’ Photographs department and, previously, she was the Curator of the LaSalle Bank Photography Collection from 2001-2008. Ms. Ehlers was also the Director of the Allen Frumkin Gallery, Chicago and later owned and directed the Ehlers Caudill Gallery, Chicago and the Carol Ehlers Gallery, Chicago. She has co-written a number of books and essays on photography, including Rineke Dijkstra: Beach Portraits, which was published in 2002.

Vanessa Hallett, Phillips’ Worldwide Head of Photographs and Deputy Chairman, Americas, said, “As a consultant to Phillips’ Photographs department over the past six years, Carol has made many contributions in support of our successful sales and market share. She has established herself as an expert voice within the photography market and we are pleased to see her apply and broaden her experience in this new role at Phillips.”

Ms. Ehlers and Ms. Peterson will work with Melyora de Koning, Senior Specialist of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, based in Denver. Together, they will serve the Midwest region by cultivating networks of collectors, art dealers and enthusiasts across Phillips’ collecting categories.