Jussi Pylkkainen, Art, Debrett's 500 2016, People of Influence

Jussi Pylkkainen

Global President, Christie’s

Finnish auctioneer Jussi Pylkkainen is the man at the centre of some of the art world’s biggest sales in his role as global president at Christie’s. After his family moved from Helsinki to Surrey, Pylkkainen was educated in Wimbledon and then at Oxford, making minor sums as a young art enthusiast by buying small works from Christie’s and selling them to his friends’ parents. He joined Christie’s in the mid-80s and joined its Old Masters department, but was advised to become an auctioneer as well as an expert by the firm’s then-chief executive in order to make himself known to collector. Pylkkainen’s reputation, skill and expertise have made him the most prominent broker amongst the global auction houses, and over the last two years Christie’s revenues have begun to surpass those of its rivals. In May 2015 Pylkkainen oversaw the sale of Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger for $160 million, setting a new record for the most expensive artwork sold at auction.