“Duncan Ackery is a successful and enterprising leader of catering for museums and galleries – he really understands what kinds of quality matter in the offer of food and drink alongside the arts“
Sandy Nairne, Director, National Portrait Gallery
“Following a reorganisation of the senior management of Couture, Duncan stepped in to fill a gap as CEO and helped stabilise the business during a difficult period. Duncan was a major part of the team who helped transform the loss making business into a profitable venture and remained as CEO up until the sale of the business to Host.“
Stewart Lund, Director, Leonard James.
“Duncan inherited a decent gallery restaurant with a reasonable cafe attached and created one of the very best public catering operations in Europe. He’s a first class leader and colleague, and built a great team around him. He has a rare combination of insight and flair with the determination and effectiveness to get the job done. What’s more we’re still on speaking terms.”
Alex Beard, Director, Royal Opera House
“Duncan was engaged to develop the food and beverage strategy for
Corinthia London during the opening phase. He worked with the design
team effectively, ensuring the spaces worked beautifully for customer
and staff alike. His proposal for the Northall Restaurant was exactly what we
required as a counterpoint to Massimo’s and has proved a great success..”
Matthew Dixon, Commercial Director, Corinthia Hotels International
“Duncan’s expert advice and informed perspective added immense value to all aspects of selection of the MAC’s catering partner. We are 23 weeks into our partnership with JRS catering and the harmony we continue to enjoy is due in large measure to the foundations laid by Duncan.”
Anne McReynolds, Chief Executive, The MAC
“Duncan gave us invaluable advice when we were restructuring our
business and helped us through a critical transition phase.”
Laura Stevenson, Executive Director, Sadler’s Wells
“Duncan’s open and collaborative approach to new projects and business models was a great help to the V&A. Together we were able to combine retail and catering thinking, and to create new experiences for our visitors and customers as a result.”
Jo Prosser, Chief Executive, V&A Enterprises
“ Duncan Ackery is a truly versatile caterer & restaurateur and moreover is blessed with both charm and intelligence – all of which he brings to bear in his approach to the variety of challenges he has undertaken and succeeded in over the years. It was a particularly big challenge that brought us together when he came over from Australia, recommended to me for the position of CEO of all Tate Gallery catering operations and more particularly the launch of Tate Modern. Nothing could have prepared us for the extraordinary attendance figures and Duncan was more than up to handling and managing the onslaught and emerged with a considerable plaudits. What enhanced his reputation even more was that all this was achieved whilst sensitively working with the demands and needs of the Gallery. We were sorry to lose him but his considerable talents demanded new challenges and ever since then I have remained close and we have often collaborated on ideas and solutions on our respective projects.”
Jeremy King
