Senior VIP Relations Manager, Asia

Who We Are:

Frieze is the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, dedicated to artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers alike. Frieze comprises three magazines – frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week – and five international art fairs – Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles and Frieze Seoul. In October 2021, Frieze also launched No.9 Cork Street, a permanent space for visiting international galleries in the heart of Mayfair, London. Frieze is part of the IMG network.

Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events, and experiences. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation through entertainment agency WME; sports operations and advisory, event management, media production and distribution, and brand licensing through IMG; live event experiences and hospitality through On Location; full-service marketing through global cultural marketing agency 160over90; and sports data and technology through IMG ARENA and OpenBet. Endeavor is also the majority owner of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company comprising UFC and WWE.

Frieze is the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, dedicated to artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers alike. Frieze comprises three magazines – frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week – and seven international art fairs – Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles, Frieze Seoul, The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago. Legacy art fair brands The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago were acquired by Frieze in September 2023. In October 2021, Frieze also launched No.9 Cork Street, a permanent space for visiting international galleries in the heart of Mayfair, London. Frieze is part of the IMG network.

Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events, and experiences. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation through entertainment agency WME; sports operations and advisory, event management, media production and distribution, and brand licensing through IMG; live event experiences and hospitality through On Location; full-service marketing through global cultural marketing agency 160over90; and sports data and technology through IMG ARENA and OpenBet. Endeavor is also the majority owner of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company comprising UFC and WWE.

Reporting to the Head of VIP, Asia, and working closely with the Director of Frieze Seoul, the Senior VIP Relations Manager will play a key role in ensuring the success of Frieze Fairs globally, by engaging top-level collectors and art advisors, ensuring their participation and enhancing their experience at our events. This role will work closely with the Asia team to develop and execute strategies for VIP cultivation and engagement.

Key Responsibilities: 

Cultivation strategy

• Work with the Head of VIP and Fair Director on building and implementing a cultivation strategy for VIPs in the region.
• Develop strategy to target and reach out to new VIP groups, across various demographics and industries.
• Identify opportunities for new in person and digital initiatives that respond to VIP audience needs.

Audience development

• As agreed with the Head of VIP and Fair Director, travel extensively to build relationships with key contacts across the region.
• As agreed with the Head of VIP and Fair Director, attend key art events in the region that support the cultivation of VIPs. 
• Deepen relationships with VIPs, both private collectors and advisors, ensuring they all have a dedicated contact and regular engagement; secure their attendance to the fairs.
• Working closely with the Events team, organise and deliver excellent year-round cultivation events, some in collaboration with Frieze VIP consultants.
• Create detailed report after each trip or meeting and contribute actively to adding and refining in depth intel into the database.
• Coordinate tailor-made itineraries for top VIPs.

Gallery relationships

• Build knowledge of Frieze galleries and their programme, attend gallery openings in the region.
• Speak to galleries participating in Frieze fairs from the region to gain intel on active institutions and patron groups.
• Facilitate onsite tours with fair directors and curators for top collectors.
• Deliver VIP introductions for galleries at the fair and year-round.

Data & Communications

• Manage the creation and review of guest lists for specific events and VIP lists for fairs in the region, ensuring liaison with VIP managers across all regions.
• Work closely with the central VIP and data teams to ensure all Frieze processes are followed, particularly that data is always entered and communicated accurately.
• Manage personal outreach plan for top collectors, ensuring they all receive consistent and regular communications.

Team & Processes

• Contribute to overall onsite processes as required during fairs.
• Share regular updates on attendance pre-fair, coordinate post fair reports with central VIP and data teams, feed into debrief process and ensure key improvements are tracked and implemented year on year.
• Oversee the VIP budget for Asia, ensuring compliance with the Head of VIP and reporting regularly to the Head of VIP Operations and the Finance team.

Skills and experience:

• Strong network of existing relationships with collectors and advisors in Asia.
• Experience of building external and internal relationships.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• In-depth understanding of the art world and the key players in Asia.
• Significant experience at a senior level within a client facing background in an environment such as a commercial gallery, museum, auction house or international art event.
• Ability to work under pressure and collaboratively work as part of a team.
• Experience managing budgets and working with a database.

Our Diversity & Inclusion Statement 

Frieze unites people in our love of the arts. We understand this can only be accomplished when we harness the entirety of our company and lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As a global company that drives culture, we are committed to practicing anti-discrimination including race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability, together with artists, writers, and cultural practitioners from all backgrounds. There is still much work to be done to address systemic inequality and discrimination within the arts and culture industry, and we are dedicated to making progress to both within our own organization and the art world at large.

Endeavor unites and brings people together in our love of sport, culture, and entertainment. We understand this can only be accomplished when we lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As a global company that drives culture, we strive to reflect the world’s diverse voices. Endeavor is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.