Bonnie Brennan

Bonnie Brennan
Born	c. 1973 Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Auction industry executive
Years active	1997–present
Known for	CEO of Christie's

Bonnie Brennan (born around 1973) is a prominent American executive in the auction industry. Since February 1, 2025, she has held the position of CEO at Christie's. Her tenure at Christie's spans over thirteen years, including a four-year period as the head of Christie's Americas division. Prior to her time at Christie's, Brennan accumulated fifteen years of experience working with Sotheby's.

Early life and education

Originally from Michigan, Brennan was raised in a suburban area near Detroit. She completed her secondary education at the Academy of the Sacred Heart located in Bloomfield Township, Michigan.

Brennan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from Northwestern University, where she studied both art history and communications.

Career

Brennan initially embarked on her professional journey in the advertising sector.

Her auction-house career commenced at Sotheby's in 1997, where she held various roles focused on business development related to trusts and estates in New York. She ultimately attained the role of senior vice president.

In 2012, Brennan transitioned to Christie's. She advanced through several leadership roles, including overseeing trusts, estates, and wealth management for Christie's Americas region. By 2020, she was serving as chairman of business development for Christie's Americas; during this time she played a pivotal role in managing significant estate auctions such as the 2018 sale of Barney A. Ebsworth’s collection, along with those of Jayne Wrightsman and the non-profit Cleveland Clinic.

In 2021, Brennan was promoted to president of Christie’s Americas, overseeing a region that grew to represent nearly half—48 percent—of Christie's total sales. She was instrumental in securing the auction of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's $1.6 billion art collection at Christie's, and supervised high-profile sales including those from Ann and Gordon Getty, Anne H. Bass, and Barney Ebsworth.

Additionally, Brennan has been a strong advocate for expanding Christie's digital initiatives and diversifying its offerings to attract younger demographics and a broader range of collectors.

On February 1, 2025, Brennan succeeded Guillaume Cerutti as CEO of Christie's. She has expressed her commitment to honoring Christie's legacy while emphasizing innovation and expanding engagement through new technologies such as AI, as well as reaching fresh audiences and markets.

Personal life

Brennan resides in New York City and splits her time between New York and London.