People

Gaurav Bhatia Sotheby’s

Who is Gaurav Bhatia (Ex Md of Sothebys)?

Gaurav Bhatia is a Mumbai-based art connoisseur who had served as the Managing Director of  Sothebys India, with 20 dedicated years in Luxury and Lifestyle. Gaurav’s inclination towards art inspired from a very young age when he gave up his trip to Bahamas to buy his first painting. Apart from being an art collector, Gaurav is also known for fashion sense. Gaurav Bhatia began his career as an adman at Young and Rubicam Advertising. With 20 dedicated years in luxury and lifestyle, Gaurav Bhatia has got his name on the Power List of the Luxury industry, on numerous industry and not-for-profit boards, including the Confederation of Indian Industry for Art and Culture.

Quote by Gaurav Bhatia

Great style is …. “Collecting art, how you make a martini, fresh mogras in summer, truffle hunting in the San Miniato hills, Spaghetti Sundays at home and racing vintage Ferraris. That’s style to me.”

“True luxury is culture. It enriches your life.

Zara or Sari? And you can have both. Just weigh in what ratio you want fast fashion to slow luxury. And know how far your rupee can go in saving a tradition, in recognizing and uplifting our indigenous textiles. It’s really in your hands.

Luxury is a serious business. In times of slowdown, people may spend less, but true luxury brands always stand the test of time and cycles.

Art is the ultimate luxury.

Virtual collecting was my best orientation.”

Work Experience of Gaurav Bhatia in Sotheby’s

Prior to working in Sothebys, Mumbai, Gaurav Bhatia had worked in multiple leadership roles. He worked with LVMH, was an Associate Partner in Young & Rubicam.

Career Roles

In his career, Gaurav Bhatia has been responsible for Marketing, particularly opening up new markets, creating new categories, working on business development, and developing customers across South Asia and United States. Gaurav Bhatia began his career as an ad man spending a decade on Madison Avenue and headed the South Asian operation of Sotheby’s, the oldest, most prestigious auction house in the world.

Sothebys Appointment as Managing Director in Mumbai

In 2016, Gaurav Bhatia was appointed as the Managing Director of  Sotheby India to company’s international team to serve the collectors in India.  The opening took off in Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai  launched. After leading LVMH for nine long years, from 2007 to 2016, Gaurav Bhatia was appointed as the Managing Director of Sotheby India to company’s international team to serve the collectors in India. The opening took off in Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, in 2016. Since then, the company has expanded its scale and scope of its activities across the country.

Gaurav Bhatia Launches MAISON

Recently, Gaurav Bhatia came up with his own firm ‘MAISON‘, a luxury, bridge-to-luxury and lifestyle advisory cell that intends to share the magic of domestic and international luxury brands with India. Offering a number of services to the clients, MAISON believes in a long-term vision that builds on the legacy of brands, encouraging creativity and business excellence. Some of the services offered by MAISON include, marketing solutions, business development ideas, branding and re-branding solutions, communication and content creation, PR, digital strategy, etc.

Gaurav Bhatia Information

Name Gaurav Bhatia
Category Businessman
Nationality Indian
Alma Mater Middlebury College
Occupation Former MD of Sotheby’s
Positions Managing Director at Company NameSotheby’s (Oct 2016 – Present)
Marketing Director at Company LVMH (2007 – 2016)
Associate Partner at Company Young & Rubicam (1999 – 2006 July)
Net Worth NA
Company Sotheby’s
Positions Managing Director (Oct 2016 – Present)
Marketing Director (2007 – 2016)
Spouse Pratima
Birthdate 24 March 1975
Birthplace Mumbai
Age NA
Languages Known Fluent in English and Hindi
Hobbies & Interests Fine Art
Painting
Poetry

Awards and Honors

Name Year
Best Innovation in Customer Relationship for being able to initiate a corporate selling & wedding program 2010 & 2011
Best PR Award at MH Asia-Pacific Awards 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012

Company Profile

Name Sotheby’s
Industry Art, Events and Retail
Type of business Private
Founded in 1987
Headquarter Greater New York Area, East Coast, Northeastern US
Services Sotheby’s conducts auctions and private sales of fine art, antiques and decorative art, jewelry, and collectibles.
Area Served NA
Revenue NA
No. of employees 1001-5000
Website www.sothebys.com

Interview of Gaurav Bhatia

Que 1. Describe why you love Mumbai?

Ans. I am a Bombay boy. I grew up in leafy Altamount Road in the heart of South Bombay and went to Cathedral and John Connon School. Our lives were idyllic, centred around our friends, the country clubs and tennis classes. I now live in the hip new Mill district of Mumbai – a very different city. Today it’s about realising dreams, multi-multi-tasking, and the traffic. It’s colorful chaos. Mumbai is many cities in one city. That’s what makes it exciting. I live in both.

Que 2. Why your office being at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel?

Ans. The Taj is the grand hotel of Bombay, built-in 1903, facing the monumental Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea. I guess we could say it’s a ‘room with a view!’.Being in the heritage (and hip) quarter with the museum mile, art galleries, boutiques, gastronomic hot spots, and a buzzing after-hours scene is always stimulating – it’s all within walking distance.

Que 3. What hidden gems do you gravitate towards in the city for celebrations/retreat/cultural interest?

Ans. The Mumbai gallery scene is very inspiring. My beat is usually Chemould Prescott Road, Chatterjee & Lal, Jhaveri Contemporary, Project 88, Sakshiand Tarq – all within the gallery mile. They have great shows of international calibre. Art Night Thursdays, twice a month, is when the city galleries come alive with inaugural shows and often serve wine on the house.

 

Read more biographies and success stories of business leaders, celebrities, healthcare professionals etc. at Leader Biography.

Vivek Bhatia

View Comments

  • Gaurav has been on India’s list of Cultural Evangelists and is “his city’s best ambassador by CNN, it's a proud for us.

  • Gaurav Bhatia is a Mumbai-based art connoisseur who had served as the Managing Director of Sothebys India, with 20 dedicated years in Luxury and Lifestyle. Gaurav’s inclination towards art inspired from a very young age when he gave up his trip to Bahamas to buy his first painting. Apart from being an art collector, Gaurav is also known for fashion sense.

  • Gaurav Bhatia Sothebys moved back home from New York in 2006 to join Moët Hennessy India (part of the prestigious LVMH Group) and currently heads Marketing for their Luxury Champagne, Wines & Spirits in India. His penchant for Luxury Marketing matches his passion and knowledge of Luxe.

  • Integrated marketing and communications expert Gaurav Bhatia was today named as Managing Director of Sotheby's India. Sotheby's said the appointment consolidates the auction house's presence in India, demonstrates the company's commitment to providing a greater level of service to its Indian clients and to further develop its calendar of events and activities in the country.

  • Gaurav Bhatia has Two decades in Luxury and Lifestyle in leadership roles at LVMH and Sotheby’s in Mumbai, India. Management & Marketing expertise: Responsible for opening new markets, creating new categories, developing new customers across South Asia and United States. Gaurav began his career as an ad man spending a decade on Madison Avenue and now heads the South Asia operation of Sotheby's, the oldest, most prestigious auction house in the world.

  • Auction house Sotheby’s has appointed Gaurav Bhatia as the managing director of its Indian operations. The company said the move demonstrates the company’s commitment to provide a greater level of service to its Indian clients and to further develop its calendar of events and activities in the country.

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