Classic Car News reports that RM Sotheby’s lead auctioneer, Max Girardo, is leaving the firm to start his own classic car brokerage. Girardo was one of Sotheby’s best auctioneers:

Girardo, who speaks four languages, was born in Australia and has lived in Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Monaco and London. He helped launch CARS Europe, a logistics company that transports high-value vehicles for customers around the world. He also is an accomplished vintage racer. […]

He was 29 when he left Bonhams for RM, where in addition to being a car specialist he tried out as auctioneer when one was needed for an automobilia sale at Amelia Island. Since then, he has handled the gavel at more than 80 major sales and hammered nine of the 20 most-valuable cars ever sold at auction.

He also has coordinated more than $250 million in private sales, in which his new company will specialize.

RM Sotheby’s Max Girardo launching his own sales agency (Classic Car News)