Tim Goodman operates an Australian auction house under the auspices of Bonham’s the second-tier UK auction house owned by Robert Brooks. Now Goodman has made a bold move to trade up, The Age reports:

Mr Goodman is […] the current chairman and chief executive of Bonhams & Goodman auction house, but he will be breaking ties with British firm Bonhams, terminating the licence to use the Bonhams’ name on December 22. […]

”It’s an extraordinarily audacious move to convert oneself from Bonhams & Goodman to Sotheby’s,” said former Sotheby’s Australia managing director Mark Fraser. ”It’s also extraordinary that Sotheby’s Holdings, the parent company in New York, has decided to move in this direction. In most other countries they have simply closed down the operation. I would say this is unprecedented … Sotheby’s has not liked licensing their name.” […]

The Australian art market was reeling at the news, but the most shocked of all were Sotheby’s Australian staff, who were told of the takeover only yesterday. The Age understands they were gutted by the announcement. But Mr Goodman said they had nothing to fear.

”We have the most enormous admiration for the brand, the company and the staff. At this time we have no plans to make any changes to the staff,” Mr Goodman said.

Sotheby’s Australia Sold to Rival (The Age)