Alexander Gilkes


Alexander Mark Heming Gilkes is a British businessman. He is the co-founder of Squared Circles, launched in 2020, and was the co-founder and president of Paddle8 from 2011 to 2018, until stepping down when it was sold to The Native. Paddle8 is an online auction house for art and collectibles, described by FT as "reimagined art collecting for the digital age."

Early life

Gilkes is the son of Jeremy Gilkes, a dermatologist, and was born and raised in London. He was educated at Eton College and at the University of Bristol.

Career

Gilkes has been based in New York since 2008. Prior to founding Squared Circles, he founded Paddle8 in 2011, which made over $140m in sales in 2015. Prior to that, Gilkes served as an auctioneer at Phillips de Pury & Company and worked at LVMH. Gilkes stepped down from his role at Paddle8 in 2018, to found Squared Circles.
Gilkes has served as auctioneer for auctions including Madonna's Raising Malawi, Elton John AIDS Foundation and amFAR.
Gilkes has been named as one of Fast Company's Most Creative Entrepreneurs in 2017, the 100 Most Powerful People in the Art World in 2014, 2015 and 2016, a Digital Maverick, one of the 40 Most Important People Under 40 and appeared on Vanity Fair and GQ's best-dressed lists. He serves on the board of the New York Academy of Art.

Personal life

Gilkes married fashion designer Misha Nonoo in Venice, Italy in July 2012. In 2016, it was reported that they had broken up. The divorce was finalised in the summer of 2017. Since 2018, Gilkes has been in a relationship with Russian former tennis player Maria Sharapova.