Spear’s Review

Helen Watson is incoming chair of Rothschild & Co’s UK wealth management business.

Watson has served as CEO since 2015 and will take up her new position in January 2026, having worked with her successor, James Morrell, for a decade.

Watson, who started her career at Morgan Stanley, joined Rothschild & Co in 2010. She has presided over a team serving a varied clientele, including entrepreneurs who have generated their wealth through business and multiple generations of numerous wealthy families. ‘I am very proud of the development of our business as more clients have entrusted us with greater proportions of their wealth,’ Watson said upon the announcement of her new role.

In her role as chair, Watson will maintain some of the wealth manager’s key client relationships, and will continue to sit on the Rothschild & Co supervisory board and group partners committee. She will also remain co-chair of Rothschild & Co’s diversity, inclusion and balance steering committee.

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Helen Watson was recently announced as ‘chair-elect’ of Rothschild & Co’s UK wealth management business, which provides discretionary investment management to clients as diverse as filmmakers, tech entrepreneurs, business owners and wealthy families. As CEO for more than a decade, Watson has made it her priority to ‘put the client first in every aspect of the business’, empowering the team to make decisions that always seek to benefit clients. The smooth succession planning behind the handover of the CEO role to James Morrell is typical of the firm’s approach.

‘We are well known in the industry for our exceptional client service and strong personal relationships,’ she says. This is reflected in very high client retention and referral rates, with both existing and new clients committing additional assets, according to the firm.

‘We spend our time and energy building portfolios which will increase in value over time and outpace inflation. Our investment performance is top quartile over three, five and 10 years, but we also build portfolios to withstand market extremes and are transparent with clients about the potential risks, as well as the rewards,’ Watson says.

The firm’s comprehensive and detailed approach was evidenced recently when a UHNW family switched to Rothschild & Co, changing investment strategy and reducing costs compared to the previous manager. ‘Working closely with their family office and legal tax advisers, we ensured that the family’s complex tax, investment management and ethical guidelines were accommodated, as well as establishing a new relationship with an external global custodian,’ Watson explains.

Investing responsibly has always been central to the firm’s approach. ‘We’re constantly striving to improve how we integrate sustainability in our investment process, as we’re convinced it’s the best way for us to deliver long-term returns for clients.’