Richard Madley
Richard Madley | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Auctioneer |
| Known for | Lead auctioneer of Indian Premier League player auctions (2008–2018) |
Richard Madley is a Welsh auctioneer recognized for his role as the lead auctioneer of the Indian Premier League (IPL) player auctions from the league's launch in 2008 through to 2018. Known by the nickname Hammer Man, he became widely known for managing high-stakes player bidding events.
Career
Madley’s early sporting background includes representing Wales in junior international hockey and competing in the Surrey League cricket competitions. He began his auction career in 1978 at Phillips Son and Neale on New Bond Street, initially working as a floor sweeper before progressing to salesroom porter and eventually auctioneer. His auction expertise spanned a diverse range of items, including Impressionist paintings, Old Master drawings, fine jewellery, and furniture dating from the 18th century. Throughout his career, he gained experience in areas such as portering, sales and marketing, accounting, and cataloguing.
In addition to his work with art and antiques, Madley conducted rugby memorabilia auctions at Cardiff’s Arms Park and acted as the auctioneer for the Welsh Rugby Players Association. His television appearances included roles as an auction expert on BBC and ITV programs, notably on the popular daytime show Bargain Hunt.
After nearly twenty years with Phillips Son and Neale, Madley transitioned to Christie's, where he served as President of Christie's East in New York. There, he specialized in baseball memorabilia auctions before shifting focus to cricket-related items. Notably, in September 2001, he conducted the final auction held at the World Trade Center prior to its destruction during the September 11 attacks.
Madley’s decade-long leadership as IPL auctioneer established him as a central figure in cricket auction circles. He remained the prominent face of IPL auctions until the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Hugh Edmeades as his successor ahead of the 2019 season. The London Times once referred to him as the most significant individual in cricket auctions.
One of the defining moments of Madley’s career was overseeing Chennai Super Kings’ aggressive bidding for MS Dhoni during the inaugural IPL auction in 2008—a landmark event in IPL history.
In September 2024, Madley was selected to oversee the player auction for the upcoming 2025 SA20 cricket league season.