Global litigation and dispute resolution firm Kennedys has appointed Tracy Watkinson as its first chief operating officer, reinforcing its operational leadership as it targets continued international expansion. Watkinson joins from NatWest Group, where she led global finance transformation and established a 300-strong COO function. ‘After 25 years in the banking sector, I’m excited to do what I love in a new industry,’ she said.
Watkinson will lead on operational excellence and change management, working alongside the executive group and business services leadership to implement the firm’s strategic goals. ‘Tracy brings a wealth of experience and will play a pivotal role in driving efficiency and supporting our expansion,’ said Meg Catalano, global managing partner.
Her appointment follows key business services hires in 2024, including Catherine Goodman as chief knowledge officer and Paul Brotzel as chief information officer. ‘This appointment reiterates our intent to build a firm fit for the future,’ added senior partner John Bruce. Kennedys recently posted record revenues of £428m and aims to reach $1bn global turnover by 2030.
Watkinson also serves as a non-executive director at Time Finance and brings to Kennedys a deep understanding of financial leadership, data-driven decision making, and operational transformation gained from roles at Barclays, UBS and Credit Suisse.
