“I loved the contrast of this sort of hyper transactional, fast paced auction world, in contrast with the exquisite things that were being traded. That dichotomy is something that has fascinated me ever since and been a big part of my career.”

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This month we are joined by Chris Bentley, Head of Fine Art & Specie at AXA XL’s UK & Lloyds business, to discuss his journey into the art world. 

From formative experiences as a porter at Bonhams, to developing art insurance products across the globe, and the importance of gathering a diverse set of professional experiences from the outset, this episode makes for essential listening for anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes infrastructures of the art world.

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About our guest

Chris Bentley is Head of Fine Art & Specie at AXA XL’s UK & Lloyds business, a role he has held since December 2020. He was previously Director of Underwriting for Northern Europe, Middle East & Asia-Pacific at AXA ART. Prior to this he worked at Hiscox where he was a member of their Fine Art team. He has held positions at Bonhams Auctioneers and Aon Artscope, a fine art insurance broker specialising in art and antique dealers.

He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, an elected member of the Lloyds Market Association and International Underwriting Association Joint Specie Committee since 2015 (as Chairman between September 2019 and March 2023), and a member of Professional Advisors to the International Art Market.

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