Former Time Inc. exec heading back into art auction scene

Former Time Inc. Senior VP Nancy Valentino, who headed People’s juggernaut publicity department until exiting 18 months ago in a restructuring, is headed back to the art auction world.

She is the new chief operating officer of Julien’s Auctions, a Los Angeles company that holds worldwide celebrity, pop culture, contemporary and street art sales.

In November, the auction house sold off the most expensive dress of all time when the hammer went down on Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday JFK” dress for $4.8 million.

Valentino spent a decade at Christie’s before her years at Time.