She will oversee and champion the firm's change agenda
Global firm Kennedys has announced that Tracy Watkinson, NatWest Group’s former chief operating officer of finance, will be its first chief operating officer.
In this new role, Watkinson will collaborate with the firm’s executive group, business services chiefs, and leadership team members to effect the firm’s business strategy. She will oversee and champion Kennedys’ change agenda, operating from London.
“With Kennedys’ continued growth trajectory, it is vital our leadership structure evolves to match our strategic ambitions. The appointment of our first chief operating officer reiterates our intent to build a firm fit for the future, and we look forward to working with Tracy to align our operations with that vision,” senior partner John Bruce said in a statement.
Watkinson brings financial leadership and operational management experience from her tenure at NatWest Group, where she set up at COO department comprising 300 employees and executed a global finance transformation, according to Kennedys. Previously, she also took on senior positions at Barclays, UBS, and Credit Suisse.
She also sits on the board of Time Finance, an AIM listed invoice and asset financing business for small-to-medium enterprises in the UK, as a non-executive director. She said she was eager to bring her experience to a new industry after having concentrated on the banking industry for 25 years.
“This strategic hire reflects Kennedys’ continued commitment to excellence and sustainable growth. Tracy brings a wealth of experience in leading complex operational environments, and will play a pivotal role in driving operational efficiency, supporting our global expansion, and helping to realise the vision set by our executive group,” Kennedys’ global managing partner Meg Catalano said in a statement.
Last year, Kennedys appointed its first chief knowledge officer in Catherine Goodman and its inaugural chief information officer in Paul Brotzel. Bruce stepped into the senior partner role in January, while Catalano took over the global managing partner post in November 2024.
