Max Lester
About Max Lester
Max Lester is the Director of Program Management and Business Operations at The Orchard, where he has worked since 2017. He holds a Master of Arts in Art Conservation from University College London and has a diverse background in various roles across the arts and business sectors.
Work at Orchard
Max Lester has served as the Director of Program Management & Business Operations at The Orchard since 2017. In this role, he oversees mergers and acquisitions integration planning and project implementation across all business units. His responsibilities include conducting strategic analysis of departmental and company-wide work-streams to enhance operational efficiency through resource management, business process outsourcing, and the adoption of new technology. His tenure at The Orchard has spanned seven years, during which he has contributed to the company's operational strategies in New York, New York.
Education and Expertise
Max Lester holds a Master of Arts in Art Conservation from University College London, which he completed in 2016. He also studied Global Liberal Studies and Spanish at New York University, earning his undergraduate degree from 2010 to 2014. Additionally, he has pursued further education through Wharton Online, where he completed a course in Introduction to Financial Accounting in 2020. His educational background is complemented by a summer field study in Classical, Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology in Yeronisos, Cyprus, in 2012.
Background
Max Lester's professional background includes diverse roles in various organizations. He worked at Christie's in Madrid and New York, focusing on client development and research in the PostWar & Contemporary Art Department, as well as auction preparation and research in the Antiquities Department. He also served as a Cultural Center Analyst at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and as a Litigation Paralegal at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. His early career included a research position at The Long Now Foundation in San Francisco.
Achievements
Max Lester is fluent in three languages: English, French, and Spanish, which enhances his ability to operate in diverse environments. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Make Music Alliance, contributing to the organization's mission. His work at The Orchard involves creating streamlined processes through strategic analysis and resource management, reflecting his expertise in program management and business operations.