Rothschild & Co appoints James Morrell as CEO of UK Wealth Management business. Current CEO, Helen Watson, becomes Chair

Rothschild & Co has appointed James Morrell as CEO of its UK Wealth Management business. He succeeds Helen Watson, who moves into the role of Chair. Both roles will be effective 1 January 2026, subject to regulatory approval. Gary Powell will step down as Chair to focus on his other responsibilities across Wealth and Asset Management and the Group and remain on the UK Wealth Management Board as a non-executive director.

James became Deputy CEO in 2024, reflecting his growing leadership role and previously led the Front Office for seven years, having joined Rothschild & Co as a Client Adviser in 2010. James will assume responsibility for Rothschild & Co’s Wealth Management operations across the UK, including Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester, and Guernsey.

Helen Watson has been CEO of the UK Wealth Management business since 2015, after joining Rothschild & Co in 2010. As Chair, Helen will continue to play a key strategic role for the UK business, supporting the management team and maintaining key client relationships. Helen will continue her Group responsibilities, sitting on the Rothschild & Co Supervisory Board, Group Partners Committee and remaining co-Chair of Rothschild & Co’s Diversity, Inclusion & Balance Steering Committee.

James and Helen have worked together for more than two decades both at Rothschild & Co and, before that, at Morgan Stanley. In the decade since Helen’s appointment as CEO, Rothschild & Co’s UK Wealth Management business has gone from strength to strength, with revenue and profits growing steadily.

“I am delighted that Helen and James have accepted these new senior roles leading our UK Wealth Management business. The transition has been carefully considered and creates a continuity and stability in leadership that our clients expect and value highly. Wealth Management is a core part of our business, guided by a long-term, client-first approach and a commitment to preserving and growing wealth across generations,” said Alexandre de Rothschild, Chairman of Rothschild & Co.

François Pérol, Managing Partner, Rothschild & Co, added: “Helen has had an impactful tenure as CEO – not only in terms of business performance, but also through her inclusive, long-term and thoughtful approach which continues to permeate throughout the business. James brings deep knowledge of the business and our clients, which makes him exceptionally well placed to take on this role. I’m confident he’ll build on these strong foundations to guide the business forward. We are delighted that Gary, who has chaired the business since 2013, will continue to support the UK business as a non-executive director.”

Helen Watson, Chair, Rothschild & Co UK Wealth Management said: “I am very proud of the development of our business as more clients have entrusted us with greater proportions of their wealth. During his years as Head of our Front Office, James has been integral to this success and responsible for building our industry-leading reputation for exceptional client service. I have worked with James for more than two decades and have no doubt that the business will go from strength to strength under his leadership.”

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the business that Helen, the broader team and I have built in recent years,” said James Morrell, CEO, Rothschild & Co UK Wealth Management. “I am excited to evolve the business in line with our current strategy as we continue to invest in and further enhance our offering focused on industry-leading client service, strong investment performance, a best-in-class platform and inclusive culture.”

Rothschild & Co has invested significantly in its UK Wealth Management business which has resulted in AUM doubling in the last six years. It recently appointed Chris Oliver and Peter Hindle to jointly head up its front office as Head of Client Strategy and Execution and Head of Client Teams respectively.

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For further information

Media contact:

Wealth Management, Rothschild & Co
Emma Rees
Tel: +44 (0) 7703 715 763
emma.rees@rothschildandco.com

About Rothschild & Co, Wealth and Asset Management

Rothschild & Co is family-controlled and independent and has been at the centre of the world’s financial markets for over 200 years. With a team of c.4,600 talented financial services specialists on the ground in over 40 countries, Rothschild & Co’s integrated global network of trusted professionals provide in-depth market intelligence and effective long-term solutions for our clients in Global Advisory, Wealth & Asset Management, and Five Arrows, its alternative assets arm.

Wealth Management offers its clients an objective long-term perspective on investing, structuring and safeguarding assets, to help them preserve and grow their wealth. Asset Management offers innovative investment solutions in a variety of asset classes, designed around the needs of each and every client. We serve a diverse client base from our offices in France (Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Aix-en- Provence), United Kingdom and Channel Islands (London, Guernsey, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds), Switzerland (Zurich, Geneva), Germany (Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Hamburg), Belgium (Brussels), Italy (Milan), Israel (Tel Aviv), United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Spain (Madrid), Luxembourg and Monaco. Wealth and Asset Management assets total €124 billion.