Craig Shearer and crew’s Collective Heads has relaunched as Kickon Group, along with new appointments and two new venues in the portfolio.
The Kickon Group portfolio began with Fitzroy North’s The Terminus, Brisbane’s historic Plough Inn, and The Collective, on the Gold Coast.
The new outfit heralds significant growth plans, headlined by in-progress redevelopment of Mornington Peninsula icon, The Continental Sorrento, in partnership with celebrated chef and restaurateur, Scott Pickett.
Joining these are two further venues in Queensland, being the Osbourne Hotel in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, and the Watermark Bar in Townsville. Both are expected to settle in coming months.
Located on the corner of Ann and Constance Streets, the Osbourne Hotel was established in 1864. Kickon takes over operations from the Fitzgibbons’ family, under lease to freeholder Nick Politis, in Sydney.
Former director of Armada Hospitality, Craig Shearer has been the founding front-man for his hospitality operations Open Arms Hospitality, then Collective Heads. The reformulated Kickon aims to further grow the portfolio of venues nationally, with a mission to “deliver amazing hospitality experiences”.
Launch of Kickon coincides with appointment of Duncan Thomson as CEO, bringing over 25 years’ experience. He joins Shearer with Sam Capogreco, Jake Furst, Tom Allan and Peter Bisogni. The Group keeps office support teams in Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
Shearer says he’s excited about where the new team can take the company.
“Launching as Kickon Group with Duncan at the helm is a huge milestone for the business. Duncan is an industry leader who brings a wealth of unrivalled experience. He will make a fantastic addition to our executive team.”
Straddled across Victoria and Queensland, Kickon is embracing a strategy of acquiring traditional, high-volume venues in desirable locations in which they can add value, via structural improvements, talent development and operating efficiencies.
“We are in a great position to build our profile through a difficult period for our industry, and deliver on our mission to create an environment in which our people feel proud and inspired to deliver amazing experiences and memories,” furthers the new CEO, Duncan Thomson.
