GENEVA.- Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo announced the appointment of Arthur Touchot as Specialist and Head of Digital Strategy. Recognizing the strategic importance of the growing online community, Mr. Touchot joins the auction house effective today.

Based in Geneva, Mr. Touchot’s appointment follows his most recent role as the Senior European Editor at Hodinkee, the world’s leading online watch publication. His analysis of the auction market earned him praise within the vintage watch community and he has also appeared as an expert on several panels, including two that were hosted by Phillips. As the magazine’s sole anchor in Europe, Mr. Touchot added a fresh perspective to the editorial team and is credited for growing the publication’s reach outside of the United States.

As the Head of Digital Strategy for Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, Mr. Touchot will expand the auction house’s digital presence. Working closely with the department’s Senior Consultants and International Strategy Advisor, he will lead the department’s online expansion into new markets, digital advertising, and social media.

Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant, said, “We are delighted to welcome Arthur Touchot to our team, having long admired his outstanding approach to journalism and online community development. Arthur’s professionalism, sterling reputation, scholarship, and integrity are the skills upon which the Phillips Watches Department prides itself and the values for which it stands. We look forward to the expansion of our digital efforts under Arthur’s leadership, developing our ever-growing client base around the world.”

A respected member of the watch press, early in his career, Mr. Touchot wrote his first articles for traditional media outlets including the International Herald Tribune and the Financial Times, but was quickly picked up by Haute Time to lead their editorial team. At just 24 years old, he became one of the youngest managing editors in the industry and a figurehead of the changing watch media landscape.

Arthur Touchot was born in Paris and lives in Geneva with his wife and their daughter. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.