Carol Vogel has the news that Thomas Seydoux is stepping down as Senior-most member of Christie’s Impressionist and Modern team:

Thomas Seydoux, a 15-year veteran of the auction house, has resigned. Like many of his colleagues before him — Guy Bennett, Franck Giraud, Christopher Eykyn and Nicholas Maclean — he will start dealing privately.

As chairman of the company’s Impressionist and modern art department, Mr. Seydoux has been an important figure in brokering lucrative private sales. He is also known for advising Russia’s new, superrich collectors.

Inside Art: Seydoux Leaves Christie’s (New York Times)