Maja Hoffmann, founder of the LUMA Foundation, a board member at Palais de Tokyo and Fotomuseum Winterthur, and a trustee at the Tate, has been named board chair at the Swiss Institute.  “Swiss Institute has a unique voice with a long tradition of championing innovative perspectives in contemporary art,” she said in a statement accepting the position. (more…)

The Guggenheim has appointed two new trustees to its board this week, Artforum reports.  Valentino D. Carlotti, a Senior Partner at Goldman Sachs, and private investor David Shuman will join the museum leadership, both of whom have worked with the museum in the past as collectors and supporters of recent acquisitions. (more…)

A recent 13D filing from Mark McGwire’s Marcato Capital in the past week states that the hedge fund now holds stocks in three Sotheby’s funds amounting to about 9.5%, equivalent to Daniel Loeb’s Third Point, and requests that the company release previously withheld information around the company’s recent dealings.  “The redacted material goes to the very heart of the parties’ dispute in this litigation – the conduct and competence of Sotheby’s board of directors in adopting a poison pill,” Marcato states in its filing. (more…)

Mark McGuire, head of Marcato Capital, was on CNBC this week, d for the disclosure of court documents from the case between Third Point and Sotheby’s last year.  “We want to make sure that the decisions that are being made at Sotheby’s are decisions that are in the best interest of the company and the shareholders, and not being driven by other motivations that should not be factors in board level decisions,” he says.  “The litigation uncovered a significant amount of correspondence and deliberation on behalf of the board, so it’s a unique opportunity to get a real window into the logic and motivations of the board members. (more…)

Outgoing Sotheby’s head Bill Ruprecht will receive a $4 million severance package from the company. The news was disclosed in an SEC filing today.  (more…)

An article on CNBC this week notes that the battle for control of Sotheby’s auction house against investor Dan Loeb cost the company upwards of $20 million in fees for legal defense and a $10 million reimbursement to Loeb for his own fees.  The full total in expenses makes up nearly half of the company’s net income during the time period. (more…)

In another sign of increased confidence in new Director Philip Vergne, MOCA has added 4 new seats to its board of trustees, among them artist Mark Bradford, public policy strategist Heather Podesta, and art collector Cathy Vedovi.  “I don’t get the feeling that this is the new MOCA, and we don’t want to talk about the old MOCA,” says Bradford.  “It feels like we’re here now, and we’re moving forward, and we have a history.” (more…)

Sotheby’s is laying off staff as a result of its current operational overhaul, following the conclusion of its fierce battle with investor Daniel Loeb.  “As part of a long-range planning process begun earlier this year, Sotheby’s has identified areas for growth and additional investment,” the company said in a statement last week.  “To capture these opportunities in an ever-evolving business, the company has decided to reallocate staff and resources.” (more…)

Following the harsh dispute between investor Daniel Loeb and Sotheby’s, the election of Loeb’s team seems to have signaled a truce between his Third Point company and the embattled auction house.  Loeb and his fellow newly elected board members have announced that they stand behind current management at Sotheby’s, particularly CEO William Ruprecht, whose removal Loeb had called for several times earlier this year.  “As of today we see ourselves not as the Third Point nominees but as Sotheby’s directors, and we expect to work collaboratively with our fellow board members to enhance long-term value on behalf of all shareholders,” Loeb said in a statement. (more…)

Investor Daniel Loeb has officially been acknowledged as one of Sotheby’s newest board members, alongside two of his own candidates, expanding the auction house’s board to 15 members.  The appointment was part of a May 5th agreement between Sotheby’s and Loeb, and brings in jewelry designer Olivier Reza and Harry J. Wilson to help lead the company.   (more…)

Proxy Adviser Glass, Lewis and Co. has backed Sotheby’s Board Nominations in the wake of Daniel Loeb’s continued pressure on the company.  “In this case, we believe the Dissident has identified certain areas of concern,” the company says in a statement, “but ultimately has fallen short of making a compelling case that additional changes in the boardroom are warranted at this time beyond those already implemented by the Company.” (more…)

Another letter from Third Point’s Daniel Loeb attacks Sotheby’s for failing to acknowledge the strength of his choices for board seats at the auction house.  “We are convinced that having an owner’s perspective in the boardroom yields better results, that this board is in dire need of fresh insights, and that our candidates are more qualified than the company’s emissaries we are seeking to replace,” Loeb writes. (more…)

The dispute between Third Point and Sotheby’s has taken a new turn, as the fund launches Value Sotheby’s, a website dedicated to stating the case against the current management at the auction house.  “Despite management touting a “record year” in 2013, Sotheby’s company health is not what the Company would lead you to believe,” the site notes, before citing figures from the embattled company’s past year. (more…)

The Museum of Contemporary Art has announced that artists Catherine Opie, John Baldessari and Barbara Kruger are all returning to their positions on the museum’s Board of Trustees.  The artists had previously left their posts over friction with then-director Jeffrey Deitch’s vision for MOCA.  Painter Mark Grotjahn has also been elected to a fourth artist seat on the board, previously occupied by Ed Ruscha.  “I’m very excited about the prospects for MOCA with Philippe leading us and I want to be supportive,” John Baldessari said in a statement. (more…)

The ongoing struggle for control at Sotheby’s has taken a new turn, with the auction house rejecting the board nominations proposed by Daniel Loeb’s Third Point LLC, and in turn naming Jessica Bibliowicz and Kevin Conroy for board seats. “The composition of your Board is something Sotheby’s takes very seriously, as the experience and expertise of its directors have been and will continue to be important to enabling the Company’s success,” the company said in an open letter to shareholders. (more…)

The Wall Street Journal spotlights Jane McSweeney as its “Donor of the Day” in a recent article, tracing her positions on the MoMA film board, the Board of Directors for MoMA Ps1, and her work with the Art Production Fund.  “I literally breathe deeper when I’m around art,” said Ms. McSweeney. “It makes me feel that there are great possibilities on the earth.” (more…)

Continuing its run of appointments and in-house changes, Sotheby’s has appointed Domenico De Sole as Lead Independent Director.  The co-founder and Chairman of Tom Ford International, former President and CEO of Gucci Group, De Sole turned around Gucci while he was there, taking it from nearly bankrupt to a multi-billion dollar conglomerate.  “We’re very excited that Domenico has joined the Board and has also agreed to serve as Lead Independent Director. He brings blue chip experience in the high-end luxury space, in Board leadership, and in strategic executive roles envisioning the future of elite brands,” said Sotheby’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer William F. Ruprecht.  (more…)

Los Angeles’s Museum of Contemporary Art has appointed three new members to its board of trustees: former KB Homes CEO Bruce Karatz, investor Stanley Gold and collector Orna Amir Wolens.  The announcement comes after MOCA made the decision to remain an independent institution and forego a merger with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  “MOCA is a dynamic part of the cultural identity of Los Angeles,” Said Bruce Karatz. “I am delighted to be part of the board that will help ensure MOCA continues its tradition of impressive, groundbreaking exhibitions.” (more…)

Russian billionaire Leonid Mikhelson has joined the board of trustees at The New Museum, mirroring the increasing number of international members on Museum boards across the U.S.  “As art is thriving in so many centers, it is imperative to have an active group of supporters with diverse perspectives and deep connections to these communities.”  Said New Museum director Lisa Phillips. (more…)