Cathy Elkies
Art and Culture Executive
Member Since
November 2025
Cathy Elkies is a senior business leader with more than three decades of experience dedicated to driving innovation, growth, and strategic transformation across the global art and design sectors. As Managing Director of Goppion US, she brings deep expertise in client engagement, market expansion, and organizational leadership to advance the company’s growth throughout North America.
Prior to joining Goppion, Cathy held several high-profile executive roles where she successfully led international teams and initiated strategies that delivered profitability, innovation and market share. At Phillips, she served as Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer and Global Managing Director, shaping the company’s global strategy and playing a central role in its highest-performing sales year. At Christie’s, Cathy held many senior leadership roles, including Global Managing Director of 20th/21st Century Art & Design, Managing Director Christie’s Los Angeles where she established the firm’s West Coast headquarters and saleroom and President of Christie’s East.
Throughout her career, Cathy has built and revitalized business divisions, launched global client strategy functions, and helped expand access to art and design through innovative programming and data-driven insights. In addition to her executive career, she serves on the board of Sophie Macpherson Ltd and is Vice Chair of Cool Culture, a nonprofit dedicated to cultural equity and access.
She holds a degree from Kenyon College and completed the INSEAD Senior Executive Leadership Program in Fontainebleau, France.
My super power is
Connecting dots, whether that’s people, ideas, creative solutions.
I'm looking for
The eternal quest to expand my network.
What I love about experience design
I have been fortunate to be immersed in the arts and culture community throughout my life. From a young age, I engaged with various art forms, including pottery, studio arts, and modern dance. My college experience introduced me to the art historical dimension, adding depth to my understanding of these forms and expanding my art-focused community. Throughout my career in the arts, what nourishes me most is not just the art itself, but the incredibly intelligent, diverse, and quirky community it attracts.
Best piece of advice I've ever heard
Some of my most valuable management lessons have emerged from the experience of child-rearing. Notably, I’ve learned that listening often holds more power than immediately providing solutions. Allowing individuals the space to navigate their challenges, while ensuring they have a supportive framework to rely on if they stumble, is incredibly impactful
Where I find Inspiration
in exquisite and thoughtful design.
Practice Area
Exhibition
Focus Area
Exhibition, Graphic, Sustainability
Industry
Cultural, Education, Museums, Recreation, Retail, Visitor Centers