Evolution not revolution: Hauser & Wirth CEO Ewan Venters
(Picture: Matt Writtle)Given Soho’s Groucho Club is famous for banning Damien Hirst, refusing Al Pacino entry and for the frequency with which Britpop stars were found slumbering under the snooker table, it’s perhaps inevitable that its new owner can’t help but drop a name or two as he discusses the acquisition. “I had the sweetest text from Nigella this morning, who sort of went ‘what!’ when she heard the news,” says Ewan Venters, eyes glinting. “And then she digested it and went, ‘oh my God! It’s so clever, it’s so right’.”
Venters is perhaps best known for his time at the top of Fortnum & Mason, but he joined gallerists Hauser & Wirth as chief executive at the beginning of last year and now oversees the company’s hospitality arm Artfarm, which is behind the Groucho purchase. Reports put the deal at being worth £40 million. True? Venters is a coy and, you gather, experienced interviewee and pulls his mouth into a straight line of a smile. “Well, we’ve not announced any numbers so, I mean, people are clearly reasonably well-informed.” He gives a dry laugh.
