The former head of US Trust and a man with deep familial ties to some of the oldest institutions of the American Establishment, Danile Davison, died last week. He had been a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum in New York and instrumental in the installation of the Temple of Dendur, according to the New York Times. But he was also Chairman of Christie’s America during the price-fixing case:
Afterward, Mr. Davison went on to be chairman of the American unit of Christie’s, the British auction house. His most dramatic moment came when the company was being investigated for colluding with Sotheby’s to fix prices in the early 1990s.
Mr. Davison, a lawyer, flew to London and addressed the board on the meaning of antitrust violations in the United States. He then requested that all the board members sign a statement saying they understood what Mr. Davison was saying. Christie’s ended up escaping criminal prosecution, but paid civil fines.
Daniel Davison, Banker Who Revitalized U.S. Trust, Dies at 85 (New York Times)
