Kennedys appoints first chief operating officer
Kennedys has appointed Tracy Watkinson as its inaugural chief operating officer (COO).
Watkinson brings extensive experience in financial leadership and operational management, having held senior roles at major financial institutions such as Barclays, UBS, and Credit Suisse. Most recently, she served as chief operating officer of Finance at NatWest Group, where she implemented a global finance transformation and established a new COO department of 300 employees. Her proven track record of driving sustainable business outcomes through data-driven decision making and operational oversight will support Kennedys’ growth ambitions.
Additionally, she is a non-executive director of Time Finance, an AIM listed invoice and asset financing business for UK SMEs.
As chief operating officer at Kennedys, Watkinson will lead on the implementation of best practice and operational excellence, as well as promoting and managing the firm’s change agenda. She will work closely with the firm’s Executive Group, Business Services Chiefs and other members of the leadership team to implement Kennedys’ business strategy.
Commenting on the appointment, Meg Catalano, global managing partner at Kennedys, said, “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.”
John Bruce, senior partner at Kennedys, added, “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.”
The creation of this role further reinforces Kennedys’ commitment to strengthening its business services leadership, following last year’s appointments of Catherine Goodman as the firm’s first chief knowledge officer and Paul Brotzel as chief information officer.
Discussing her new role, Watkinson said, “What drew me to Kennedys was its compelling growth story and clear ambition to continue on that upward trajectory. After 25 years in the banking sector, I’m excited to do what I love in a new industry, and to work alongside leadership to build on the firm’s strong foundations and drive continued success.”
Earlier this month, the firm reported record revenue of £428m for FY24/25, and set an ambitious goal of USD1bn (USD) global turnover by 2030.
