An Exclusive Interview With Jacob Pabst CEO And Supervisory Board

The son becomes the father: Vision, art and business innovation

- By Dr. Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar

Jacob Pabst, CEO of artnet AG, speaks to Dr.Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar about curiosity, vision and father-son relationship.

Jacob Pabst has over 12 years of experience in the art world. He studied Economics and held various leadership positions at artnet before taking on the position of CEO.

Pabst began at artnet in 2000 doing sales in Europe and quickly became involved as a leader in product development and new technologies.

In 2009, he took on additional departments as a chief information officer, responsible for product development, engineering, content management, SEO, and quality assurance.

Pabst held this position until January 2012, at which time he became president of Artnet Worldwide Corporation and led operations in New York, NY. Under his direction, the artnet site and infrastructure have been materially improved, several new products launched, including artnet Auctions (in 2008) and artnet Analytics (in 2012). Marketing has been reoriented, and professionalized artnet successfully entered social media.

Additionally, Pabst streamlined both technology and operations for greater savings and efficiency.

THE SON BECOMES THE FATHER: Vision, Art and business innovation

Jacob Pabst, Artnet CEO, speaks to Dr.Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar about curiosity, vision, and father-son relationship.

Art Market: Hi Jacob, It's a pleasure having this interview. Perhaps you can start by sharing what brought you to choose the art world and Artnet of all the possible businesses you could have joined.

Jacob Pabst: Well, for a long time, I was absolutely uncertain about what I wanted to do. I am a very curious person, and many areas interested me. I was born in Hamburg, Germany, and was attracted to music.