In a shock announcement, first published in yesterday’s Times, The Chanel Group; owner of London gunmaker Holland & Holland, has appointed veteran auctioneer Nicholas Holt as Chairman and CEO.
Making the announcement, Helen Clift, Chanel’s Human Resources Director, said “It quickly became apparent that Holland & Holland needed someone with real industry knowledge and experience at the head of the firm. We feel that Nicholas Holt has that expertise and experience as well as the panache and sophistication that a company like Holland & Holland needs in its leader”.
Nicholas Holt came from humble beginnings, working variously as a male model and personal assistant to elderly society ladies in his late teens, before being discovered, aged twenty-one by, Head of Sporting Guns at Bonhams, Chris Brunker and recognised for his innate ability to uncover valuable artefacts and bring them to market.
He spent the next decade working for Bonhams, officially as a junior specialist but in reality as the leading authority in his field. A contemporary told us ‘Even then we knew Nick would do great things, he really was the brains of the Gun Department. His famous charm and social skills, no doubt helped part a few wealthy widows from their inherited Purdeys”.
In 1998 Mr Holt left Bonhams to set up his own business, with the backing of several Russian businessmen (since deceased). Holt & Company quickly took over the bulk of the UK gun auction business, to the delight of the country’s independent gun dealers. John Farrugia of the Cheshire Gunroom remembers those days fondly; “Before Nick Holt came along to show us how to sell guns in a modern, Inernet-friendly way, we really were just thrashing around in the dark. Nick showed us the light”.
“Holland & Holland is a great British institution and, as such, deserves a churchillian leader to steer it through these difficult times.
A delighted, but humble, Mr Holt said “Holland & Holland is a great British institution and, as such, deserves a churchillian leader to steer it through these difficult times. Chanel clearly thought I was the right man and, frankly, who am I to argue?”
Such industry-leading brilliance does not come cheap and Chanel has broken the bank to secure Mr Holt on a ten year deal, said to be worth in excess of ten million pounds.
Truly, we can expect great things from this most famous London gunmaker, now they have real expertise in the captain’s chair. Among the projects that have been hinted at are a laminate stocked, stainless steel hunting rifle, which Mr Holt apparently believes can be “Like a Tikka, but better, perhaps with gold inlay by Alain Lovenburg to give it that all-important Holland & Holland feel.”
Whatever does come to pass, the Easter season is, perhaps, a portentous time to witness the resurrection of Holland & Holland at the hands of one of the Gods of the gun trade.
Published by Vintage Guns Ltd on
