Inside Convelio's Art Storage Facilities: Meet the Warehouse Managers

At Convelio, that behind-the-scenes world revolves around our two facilities: a 13,500 sq. ft. bonded, tech-enabled warehouse near Heathrow, London and a newly opened 3,000 m² bonded fine art facility in Le Bourget, Paris. Together, they serve as the backbone for our clients operating in the UK and France, supported by dedicated teams of trained art technicians and powered by a Tier 1 Warehouse Management System that syncs directly with our client-facing inventory management tools. And with plans underway to open a third warehouse in New York City next year, this ecosystem is only just beginning to take shape.

To bring this all to life, we sat down with the people who run these operations day-to-day: Icham Harhouz, Warehouse Manager at our Paris facility, and Ben Van Rensburg, Warehouse Manager in London. Their paths into the industry couldn’t be more different, but the care, precision, and leadership they bring to their teams is unmistakably aligned.

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How did you first get into this line of work, was it planned or something that found you?

Icham: It found me completely by chance. I was helping a freelance art handler friend sort his paperwork, and as we talked, I realised how little I knew about this hidden world. I kept asking questions: how do you handle artworks in museums? How are they stored, moved, prepared before exhibitions open? He saw my curiosity, introduced me to a few companies, and before I knew it, I was freelancing too. From the very first project, I felt instantly at home. Something unexpected became a genuine passion.

Ben: I’m the opposite, I walked right into it. I started as a porter back in 2007 for a company that eventually became part of Cadogan Tate - I was literally unloading cases into sale rooms. Over the years I moved through almost every technical role possible: salesroom technician, manager, and eventually Associate Director at Christie’s South Kensington. When that branch closed, I joined Crown Fine Art, and later found my way here. It’s been nearly two decades of growing alongside the industry.

What does a typical day look like in your warehouses?

Ben: Mornings are all about alignment: quick briefs with the team, checking the dashboards, making sure resources match the jobs ahead.Then it becomes a mix of responding to the day’s moving pieces, planning, and answering questions on packing specs, freight and shuttle coordination, pricing requests. Every day throws something different at you.

For a deeper look into the capabilities of our London facility, explore our Unveils Storage Solutions Article.

Icham: Same in Paris! Emails first, identifying urgent requests, lots of continuous exchanges with the technicians and ops teams. I support with technical details for quotes, but I also make sure I’m out on the floor. Seeing what the technicians face day-to-day helps us solve problems quickly. And of course, there’s the running of the warehouse itself: welcoming clients, managing safety procedures, restocking materials, and so on.

You can learn more about our Paris facility in our Art Storage Redefined Article.

The most impressive artwork or exhibition you’ve helped install?

Icham: There are a few unforgettable ones: installing Van Gogh’s self-portrait at the Petit Palais; the enormous Silo project at Musée du Quai Branly with more than 3,000 items; the Marc Chagall exhibition at La Piscine; and all the permanent sculptures at Roland Garros. Each felt monumental in its own way.

Ben: At Christie’s I handled some incredible pieces. Monet Waterlilies, a Blue Period Picasso, even a 100-carat diamond. Personal favourite was Michael Jackson’s iconic Thriller hat. But I always say: the value shouldn’t change how we treat them. Every piece gets the same level of respect and white-glove care.

A moment that made you especially proud of your team?

Ben: Two recent projects, Frieze art fair and the Pilar Corrias sale, were huge wins. They happened in my first six months at Convelio, and seeing the team operate with such methodical professionalism was incredible.

Icham: I’m always proud of the team, but the best moments are when they’re happy with the work they’ve done and the client acknowledges it. That’s when you know it’s been a solid day.

What’s something most people don’t realise about running an art-handling warehouse?

Ben: Even in a warehouse full of remarkable pieces, the job is driven by people rather than objects. Understanding a client’s priorities, the provenance of a piece, and the sensitivities around it is what allows us to deliver the right approach every time.

Icham: And the coordination behind the scenes is huge. People see an exhibition ready on opening day, but they don’t see the weeks of planning, troubleshooting, documentation, and supporting technicians through complex operations.

How do you keep your team’s energy up during intense install weeks?

Ben: I try to balance workloads, long days followed by lighter ones. It’s a tough job, and acknowledging personal lives, energy levels, and individual strengths makes a big difference.

Icham: I couldn’t agree more. It’s all about being present, so that issues are solved well and quickly, and the pressure doesn’t stay on their shoulders.

Ben: For sure. The real reward comes when every stakeholder - from our Customer Care and Freight teams to the client themselves - moves in sync and the project lands without a hitch. These projects can take six to twelve months to orchestrate, and success relies on experience: allocating the right resources, with the right timeline, and understanding that every artwork handles differently.

What do you see changing in the next few years?

Ben: For art handling, movement minimisation is key: fewer hands, fewer rotations, safer transfers. Systems will keep evolving too; warehouse management is becoming increasingly digital.

Icham: Yes. Coming to Convelio, one of the things that struck me right away was how much digitalisation could support the way a warehouse operates. Our Warehouse Management System runs in real time and it’s directly linked to Convelio’s Inventory Management Software, which is what our clients can use to manage their inventory. The WMS feeds the IMS, so every item in storage is tracked with images, details and status updates in one place. It’s simple to use, but incredibly powerful.

Ben: And with Convelio becoming the first fine art shipper to achieve SOC 2 Type 2, the digital side is as secure as the physical side. It’s still unusual in our industry, but it’s becoming essential with more cyber threats and the amount of personal data we manage.

Any advice for someone hoping to get into art logistics or warehouse work?

Ben: I’d say to stay curious. Spend as much time as you can watching how things are done like how materials react, how technicians plan an install, how crates are built. This industry rewards people who pay attention and learn by doing.

Icham: And don’t overthink it. None of us arrived knowing everything. If you’re observant, respectful, and willing to learn, you’ll pick things up quickly. Team spirit is everything in a warehouse, so bring a good attitude and you’ll go far.

You can explore open roles on our job board here: Convelio Careers

Quickfire Wrap-Up

Favourite time of day in the warehouse?

Icham: Early morning, when the warehouse wakes up.

Ben: Same! Right before the day kicks off.

Your cities in three words?

Icham (Paris): Vibrante, créative, surprenante.

Ben (London): Kalaidoscope of cultures.

One thing you can’t start the workday without?

Icham: A quick check-in with the team.

Ben: Coffee. Lots of it, about four cups.

References & Further Reading

Looking to dive deeper into the world of fine art logistics and storage? Here are a few resources mentioned throughout this interview:

• London Storage Solutions: A closer look at how our Heathrow facility supports collectors, galleries, and institutions across the UK.
• Art Storage Redefined (Paris): An inside tour of our Le Bourget warehouse and the technology reshaping art storage in France.
• White-Glove Art Delivery Guide: What “white-glove care” really means, and how professionals handle high-value works with precision.
• Careers at Convelio: Interested in joining the world of art logistics? Explore current roles on our job board.
• Contact Us: Have storage needs or project questions? Our team is here to help. Contact us at order@convelio.com.