Global law firm Kennedys has appointed Tracy Watkinson as its inaugural chief operating officer (COO), marking a significant step in the firm’s ongoing global growth and transformation strategy.
Watkinson joins from NatWest Group, where she most recently served as COO of Finance. During her tenure, she led a wide-ranging global finance transformation programme and established a new COO function comprising 300 staff. Her career spans over two decades in senior operational and finance roles at major financial institutions including Barclays, UBS, and Credit Suisse.
Her appointment follows a record-breaking financial year for Kennedys, which reported revenues of £428 million for FY 2024/25. With more than 2,900 employees across 47 offices in 19 countries, the firm has set an ambitious target to reach US$1 billion in global turnover by 2030.
In her new role, Watkinson will lead Kennedys’ transformation agenda, working in close collaboration with the executive group and heads of business services to deliver on the firm’s long-term strategic goals.
Global managing partner Meg Catalano said the appointment reflects the firm’s commitment to sustainable growth and operational excellence:
“Tracy brings deep expertise in leading large, complex operations. Her experience will be instrumental in enhancing our global efficiency, supporting continued expansion, and helping to realise the vision laid out by our executive group.”
Senior partner John Bruce added:
“As Kennedys continues to grow, evolving our leadership structure is crucial. The creation of the COO role underscores our ambition to build a future-ready firm, and Tracy’s leadership will be central to aligning our operations with that goal.”
In addition to her executive experience, Watkinson serves as a non-executive director at Time Finance, an AIM-listed lender supporting UK SMEs—adding further strength to her governance and financial oversight credentials.
Her appointment follows other recent strategic hires at Kennedys, including Catherine Goodman as the firm’s first chief knowledge officer and Paul Brotzel as chief information officer.
