Pinault Foundation names its first director

Philippe Vergne (38), senior curator at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, has been appointed director of the Pinault Foundation for contemporary art, which is to start building by the end of this year a museum on the Île Seguin on the river Seine in Paris to house the collection of François Pinault, owner of Christie’s. The museum has been designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando and is scheduled for completion in 2007. Mr Vergne takes up his position in autumn 2005.