Adam Chinn, the corporate lawyer turned private equity executive turned art advisory firm partner, has another transformation in his professional bio. The minority partner in Art Agency, Partners who was brought into Sotheby’s as the head of transaction support where it was his job to help the specialists make deals that would protect the firm’s margins, has been named Chief Operating Officer.

The new title isn’t expected to change Chinn’s day-to-day responsibilities. Though it might signal something about Sotheby’s upcoming earnings considering his focus on improving margins at the auction house.

The promotion will muddy the waters for those trying to distinguish between Sotheby’s, Art Agency, Partners and SFS, the three main operating arms of the company. Chinn would appear to central roles at two of the three divisions.