Christie’s London Chairman Quits in Wake of Price Scheme
The venerable art auction house Christie’s International said its London chairman, David Bathurst, has resigned following an admission that he falsely reported the results of an art sale four years ago.
Bathurst, who at the time of the auction was chairman of Christie’s New York, admitted that he reported inflated sales prices for some Impressionist paintings in order to help support market prices.
Christie’s said it reached a settlement with the New York Consumer Affairs Department over the incident, and that Bathurst has surrendered his New York auctioneer’s license. He will remain a director in London but will no longer be a director of Christie’s International.
CALIFORNIA
Bobby R. Inman, the former CIA deputy director whose business ties read like a Who’s Who of high technology, has been elected a director of Irvine-based Fluor Corp.
Inman, 54, currently serves as chairman, president and chief executive of Microelectronics & Computer Technology Corp., an Austin, Tex.-based consortium of 21 American high-tech companies working to develop a new generation of advanced computers. Before joining the consortium in 1983, Inman worked in the CIA and served as director of the National Security Agency.
Fluor Chairman David S. Tappan Jr. said his company is interested in Inman’s ties to the inner offices of government as well as his connections in high-tech circles. Tappan called Inman “a visionary in technology-driven markets,” which are the markets that Fluor is increasingly trying to tap with its engineering, construction and management services.
A graduate of the University of Texas, Inman served in the Navy from 1952 to 1982. He achieved the rank of admiral of 1981.
Inman also serves on the boards of Southwestern Bell, Texas Eastern Corp. and Tracor Inc. and is vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
NATION
Washington-based Communications Satellite Corp. (Comsat) said President Irving Goldstein will be elevated to chairman and chief executive Oct. 1 to replace Joseph Charyk, who will retire in September at the company’s mandatory retirement age of 65. Charyk will remain a director. Marcel Joseph, currently executive vice president, will become president and assume the newly created title of chief operating officer.
Victor S. Ringel, who led the start-up of New York-based Murjani’s venture to produce a line of Coca-Cola-label clothing, has resigned to form his own company providing a liquidation service for clothing manufacturers and retailers.
Bangor Hydro-Electric Co., Bangor, Maine, named President and Chief Executive Thomas A. Greenquist chairman, succeeding Robert N. Haskell, who is retiring. Greenquist will remain president; the company hasn’t yet named a new chief executive.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Robert Sheehan has been named vice president-finance for Paramount Pictures Corp.’s television group, based in Los Angeles.
Glen U. Shipley has been named vice president-finance and chief financial officer for Lionheart Television International, Los Angeles.
Marlane Weber McGarry has been named a principal in Simon/Public Relations Inc., Los Angeles. Simultaneously, the agency changed its name to Simon/McGarry Public Relations Inc.
Discovery Oil Ltd., Los Angeles, named William G. Cole vice president-treasurer and chief financial officer.
Richard B. Olerich has been named to the newly created position of corporate vice president-sales and marketing for Treasure Chest Advertising Co., Glendora.
Beverly Hills-based Columbia Savings & Loan Assn. named Hillel S. Aronson senior vice president-tax strategies and financial planning.
Michael P. Fitzgerald has been named vice president and general manager of B. D. Fox & Friends Advertising, Inc., Los Angeles.
Giorgio Inc., Beverly Hills, named Mike Martin senior vice president-Europe, based at the newly opened London office.
Jo Anne Laine has joined the Los Angeles office of Tracy-Locke, a public relations agency, as senior vice president-marketing planning and research.
