Specialist contract caterer Searcy has appointed De Vere food and beverage director Duncan Ackery as its new chief executive following the resignation of John Nugent earlier this year.

Ackery will take the helm at the company, which was recently acquired by De Vere owner Alternative Hotel Group, later this year. He will continue his involvement as head of food and drink at De Vere but will relinquish his responsibilities at Village Hotels.

 “Searcy is a much respected business and I feel really lucky to have been offered this opportunity,” Ackery told Caterer.

“In my new role as chief executive I will focus on driving its position in the business and industry sector as well as its already well established position in the cultural sector.”

Current chief executive Nugent will launch his own company and has taken on the lease of the restaurant, bar and function rooms of Kings Place, a new building overlooking Battlebridge Basin in London's King's Cross.

Separately, Searcy has retained its contract to manage the catering at London’s Barbican Centre.

The renewed seven-year contract, which is worth £36m, will see the company oversee the banqueting, bars and fine dining at the venue.

By Kerstin Kühn

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