Maarten ten Holder
CEO
New York
Maarten ten Holder brings decades of experience in the international fine art & classic car market to Gurr Johns. Based in New York, he’s leading the firm’s North American businesses, with a particular focus on the further expansion of the company’s advisory services.
Before joining Gurr Johns, Maarten has held numerous senior leadership positions in the auction world. He worked for over 25 years at Sotheby’s, where he served as a Managing Director for North and South America and later for Europe and the Middle East, eventually taking on the Global Managing Director role of Sotheby’s Luxury and Lifestyle division. During his career at Sotheby’s, Ten Holder was responsible for its first ever auction in France, presided over iconic sales in the US and UK, including the collections of Bunny Mellon, Patricia Kluge, Lily Safra and David Bowie and spearheaded the Ferrari sale at Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello Italy, re-entering Sotheby’s in the classic car arena.
In 2018 Maarten segued definitively into the world of classic and super cars, first by joining RM Sotheby’s as Head of Europe and Principal Auctioneer, and subsequently by transferring to Bonhams where he was the Global Managing Director for Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia. He created several new auction opportunities and venues for both houses through the formation of strategic partnerships, most notably with Formula 1 and several of its race promotors.
Having worked and lived in the Netherlands, France, Italy, the UK and now again in the US, Maarten is very well versed in the international art and classic car market and as such ideally placed to lead Gurr Johns US and international expansion.