Mathieu Legars and Marta Kubicka join Arqana sales and marketing teams

French auction house Arqana has strengthened its sales and marketing teams with the arrival of Mathieu Legars and Marta Kubicka.

Legars, 34, joins the bloodstock team led by Ludovic Cornuel after an eight-year spell as Coolmore's representative in France.

The Normandy native also previously worked at Camas Park Stud, where he worked in sales preparation and the jumps training yard, before being hired by Coolmore.

At Coolmore he originally worked in the foaling unit and breaking in yearlings before becoming head of coverings and stallions in 2006, a role which meant he spent several breeding seasons in New Zealand and Argentina overseeing the operation's shuttlers.

He takes up his new position at Arqana on February 1 and will, according to a statement by the company, “participate in all the bloodstock team's missions – inspection and selection of horses for he sales, advice to buyers, as well as prospecting in France and abroad”.

Legars said: "A total of 12 years at Coolmore and around the world have brought me unforgettable experiences, very good practical knowledge and a great understanding of the market. I would like to thank Mr John Magnier, his son MV, Paul Shanahan, Harry King, David O'Loughlin, Christy Grassick and all the members of the Coolmore team for allowing me to learn and grow with them.

“It is with great pleasure that I will now use all my skills with Arqana. I have been closely following the evolution of Arqana since its creation and I can only admire its development in all market sectors as well as its endeavour to be creative and constantly come up with new services for breeders, consignors and trainers such as Arqana Online, the October Yearling Sale Criterium, the Auteuil Sale, and so on.

“It is therefore a great opportunity for me to join a solid and motivated team with whom we will continue to move forward.”

Meanwhile, Kubicka becomes marketing and communications director at Arqana as Alix Choppin, previously director of communications and development, is moving into a role in which she will be responsible for seeking new owners and investors in the thoroughbred sector.

Choppin will also oversee Arqana's new innovations including The Auction, a sale of show jumping embryos that takes place on February 15.

Polish-born Kubicka, 32, holds an engineering degree from Arts et Metiers Paris Tech and worked for seven years as site manager and commercial technical manager at Air Liquide, a position that led her to supervise teams and work in production units in South Korea, French Guiana, Brazil, Qatar, China and throughout Europe.

In 2017 she decided on a career change and undertook a Masters in Equine Science and Business (MESB) from AgroSup Dijon. During the course she did some work experience with Al Shaqab’s Haras de Bouquetot, the Royal Cavalry of Oman and then spent several months with France Galop working as a commercial project manager at Deauville racecourse.

"I'm very pleased to join Arqana, a dynamic company, and its exceptional teams who do their utmost to offer the best possible service to customers,” said Kubicka. “It is with great enthusiasm that I will actively pursue the development of this company's marketing and communication strategy.”

Arqana president Eric Hoyeau commented on his new members of staff by saying: “In an increasingly competitive international environment, Arqana intends to equip itself with all the necessary means to fly the flag high for French breeding, encourage new buyers and vendors and promote the tremendous experience offered by breeding and owning race horses.

“Strengthening our human resources is an important step in this direction, and a prerequisite for many of the strategic efforts we will be making throughout the coming year.”

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