Rebecca Cockell
Bromley
Summary
A highly organised and experienced Executive Assistant and arts administrator with a passion for building client relationships.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work history
EA to CEO, and Deputy Chairman, Europe
Phillips
01.2021 - Current
- Managing all aspects of day-to-day activity for executives.
- Answering incoming telephone calls and emails, arranging conference calls, internal and external meetings.
- Responding to invitations and maintaining multiple calendars’, ensuring all information is accurate and up to date.
- Updating Executives on their daily agenda and going through queries for each week, helping them to oversee auction deadlines and deals.
- Organising travel plans, liaising with travel companies, and preparing user-friendly travel itineraries for Executives.
- Submitting expense reports, overseeing approvals for expenses, travel, and time off for direct reports to the CEO, working with the CFO to facilitate.
- Overseeing all staff meetings for the CEO, working closely with operations, IT, press and client services, in order to facilitate a virtual / in person meeting for around 600 people globally.
- Assisting with clients shipping and stock control.
- Preparing and maintaining correspondence with clients. Drafting letters and suggesting solutions to queries.
- Coordinating client strategy as identified by executives, and working with the client development team.
- Assisting with business getting and liaising with VIP clients and their staff.
- Serving as an internal liaison for clients’ pre- and post-sale transactions, including registration, bidding, purchases and invoicing, consignment contracts and settlement; coordinating with the relevant departments. Also assisting with online and telephone bidding.
- Liaising with other Executive Assistants to ensure good communication throughout the company, and serving as a back-up to provide coverage when needed.
- Liaising with art handlers and helping to arrange restoration of art and design works.
- Organising files and documents and updating Phillips databases.
EA, Head of Strategy, Senior International Specialist of Contemporary Art, and Deputy Chairman
Phillips
05.2019 - 04.2020
EA to Worldwide Head of Design and Deputy Chairman
Phillips
06.2017 - 04.2019
Auction Manager
Brompton's Auctioneers
03.2008 - 06.2017
- General office management; overseeing day to day administration and ensuring auctions arranged, with relevant marketing collateral being produced and online portals updated.
- Managing catalogue production and liaising with designers, photographers and instrument restorers.
- Assisting Chairman, Director, and senior consultants; managing diaries, booking appointments, correspondence, and planning travel.
- Preparing meeting agendas and briefing other staff members.
- Staff and supplier management; ensuring all deadlines met for key auction dates.
- Hiring and managing temporary staff for auction viewings and sale days.
- Client management; maintaining good relationships with buyers, vendors and VIPs, ensuring their needs met as well as managing their sales and purchases.
- Arranging all aspects of valuation days in the UK and overseas.
- New business; meeting potential sellers of high value antique instruments and gaining trust, in order for them to sell through Brompton's.
- Liaising with shippers and clients to organise shipments, plus export and CITES licences. Overseeing imports and exports. Set up and maintained temporary import system for company.
- Arranging special exhibitions and highlights tours overseas.
- Updating social media for the company and liaising with videographers and musicians to make videos for the website.
- Other duties; Preparing instrument loans, insurance valuations, stock control, financial assistance, implementing programmes and systems.
Contemporary Art Department Administrator
Christie's
07.2007 - 03.2008
- Providing support to notable Contemporary Art Department clients whilst liaising with other departments within the business, including editing correspondence and reports and working closely with specialists and department heads.
- Assisting in the production of the auction catalogue, liaising with the specialists, warehouse, and photo studio teams.
- Maintaining client files using various internal computer systems and the department filing system.
- Coordinating travel plans and liaising with clients and the art transport department.
Auction Administrator
Spink & Son
08.2006 - 07.2007
- Assisting with auctions and specialist departments within the auction house.
- Liaising with vendors and buyers, dealing with catalogue enquiries and bids related issues, including online bidding.
- Other duties included cashiering, sale clerking, shipping, postage, and reception work.
Musical Instruments Department Administrator
Christie's
10.2003 - 08.2006
- PA to head of department.
- Organising auctions, phone bidding, cataloguing and condition reports.
- Supporting senior specialists and training new administrators and interns.
- Helping clients with VAT and insurance queries.
- Answering client queries, business getting and looking after buyers and sellers.
- Ensuring overall department organisation, office supplies and incoming mail distribution.
Chinese Works of Art Department Administrator
Christie's
07.2002 - 10.2003
- Maintaining client contracts and office files.
- Event planning and PA to consultants and the head of department.
- Arranging consolidated shipments from London to Hong Kong.
- Liaising with clients to resolve enquiries, appointment requests and invoicing questions.
Bids Office Administrator
Christie's
06.2001 - 07.2002
- Taking absentee bids via telephone and internet, producing sales results, using property and client management systems.
- Greeting and directing incoming visitors and clients to reduce wait times and increase satisfaction.
- Front of house duties and assisting Christie's education courses.
Museum Assistant
Buckingham Palace, The Royal Mews
07.2000 - 09.2000
- Role held whilst studying at university, this involved working in the gift shop, supervising visitors, and guiding them around the mews.
- Liaising with overseas tourists and speaking German and Spanish.
- Worked with security team for ongoing safety of visitors and collections.
Education
BA - Art History
Winchester School of Art
A-Levels Art History, Art, and English Literature -
Orpington College
AS Level in Music -
Vivat Musica
BromleyNine GCSEs awarded grades A-C -
Langley Park School for Girls
Beckenham, BromleyGrade 8 flute -
ABRSM
Grade 5 piano -
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
LondonGrade 5 Music Theory -
ABRSM
Skills
- Efficient EA, office manager and administrator
- Played a key role in the setting up and running of a new business, Brompton’s Auctioneers
- Self-motivated, proactive, professional, and responsible
- Good knowledge of the auction / art world
- Proven experience of database management
- Exceptional client service skills – successfully grown relationships with clients, based on previous successes and development of trust
- Excellent organisational skills, managing multiple roles in a pressurised sales driven environment, prioritising and meeting strict deadlines
- Strong written and spoken communication skills, with knowledge of Word, Excel, MS Office, Office 365, PowerPoint, and auction property and client management systems
- Meticulous attention to detail, excellent analytical skills, alongside the ability to solve problems effectively
- Ability to work using a high level of discretion, always maintaining confidentiality
- Proficient in German (verbal and written) alongside basic Spanish language skills
Interests
Greatly enthusiastic about music and the arts and enjoy trips to museums and art exhibitions.
Playing the flute and saxophone in various groups including orchestras, saxophone quintets and concert bands. Occasionally taking part playing at events such as weddings and charity fundraisers. Over the years have experience of teaching the flute, playing in big bands, flute choirs, piano duos, wind quintets and more.
Part of an outdoor military fitness group and participate in challenges with this team.
Languages
German
Intermediate
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
EA to CEO, and Deputy Chairman, Europe
Phillips
01.2021 - Current
EA, Head of Strategy, Senior International Specialist of Contemporary Art, and Deputy Chairman
Phillips
05.2019 - 04.2020
EA to Worldwide Head of Design and Deputy Chairman
Phillips
06.2017 - 04.2019
Auction Manager
Brompton's Auctioneers
03.2008 - 06.2017
Contemporary Art Department Administrator
Christie's
07.2007 - 03.2008
Auction Administrator
Spink & Son
08.2006 - 07.2007
Musical Instruments Department Administrator
Christie's
10.2003 - 08.2006
Chinese Works of Art Department Administrator
Christie's
07.2002 - 10.2003
Bids Office Administrator
Christie's
06.2001 - 07.2002
Museum Assistant
Buckingham Palace, The Royal Mews
07.2000 - 09.2000
BA - Art History
Winchester School of Art
A-Levels Art History, Art, and English Literature -
Orpington College
AS Level in Music -
Vivat Musica
Nine GCSEs awarded grades A-C -
Langley Park School for Girls
Grade 8 flute -
ABRSM
Grade 5 piano -
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Grade 5 Music Theory -
ABRSM