James Kennedy

James Kennedy (born 18 March 1979, Sydney) is an Australian businessman and the Managing Director & CEO of Kennedy, a luxury watches and jewellery business renowned for selling swiss watch brands and international jewellery brands. Under his leadership, the company has expanded from two stores to a national footprint of Kennedy boutiques and mono-brand boutiques, establishing a significant presence in the luxury market.

#Early life and career
Kennedy was born on 18 March 1979 and raised in Bellevue Hill, Sydney, Australia. He attended Cranbrook High School.

Kennedy did not start formally straight away; he felt it was important to experience the world both professionally and personally outside of a family business. He worked part-time on the sales floor early on while studying, which gave him insight at the ground level of the business. He went on to forge a career in finance notably at both Deutsche Bank.

When James Kennedy’s father, Louis, died in 2008 at the age of 83, James took over the family business, LK Jewellery, at the age of 29 in a generational transition. James Kennedy's father, who became a father at 55 during his second marriage, was a significant influence in Kennedy's life. As a genuine Holocaust survivor, his father's experiences instilled in him qualities such as determination and resilience. These traits have been instrumental in shaping Kennedy's entrepreneurial journey, providing him with the strength and perseverance needed to succeed.

In 2008, James Kennedy restructured the watch and jewelry business in the midst of the global financial crisis to establish new stores in quick succession – at Crown Casino in Melbourne, The Star Casino in Sydney, and in the Henry Davis York heritage building in Sydney’s Martin Place.

James, along with his wife, Jaimee Belle Kennedy led the rebrand of Kennedy business in 2016. From c. two stores in 2009 the business generated sales of c. 12m p.a. Now, Kennedy watches and jewellery under the stewardship of James Kennedy the national store network has expanded, with revenues in excess of 150m per annum.

James Kennedy is steadfast in his focus on the watch and jewelry business, with the store network set to expand significantly across Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth in 2025-2026.

From 2023, James Kennedy is a major partner of NGV Melbourne Now, celebrating contemporary local art and design across various disciplines, including fashion, jewellery, and sculpture. This collaboration highlights the creativity of local artists, featuring over 200 projects and numerous world-premiere works commissioned by the NGV.

#Personal life
James Kennedy, an Australian businessman, and his wife, Jaimee Belle Kennedy, are deeply embedded in the world of luxury watches and jewelry through their company. They are passionate about interior design, they collaborate often with Greg Natale for both their home and the Kennedy HQ in Toorak, Melbourne.

James Kennedy and Jaimee Belle Kennedy have a son, Preston.

James Kennedy has a strong commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, believing that exercising the mind is as important as exercising the body. He dedicates significant time to reading and studying, focusing on business, leadership, and financial books, as well as biographies of influential figures such as Winston Churchill and Jeff Bezos. Additionally, travel is a valued pastime for James, allowing him to spend quality time with family and friends.

Mark Bouris, executive chairman of Yellow Brick Road and host of Celebrity Apprentice, mentored James Kennedy in the early years of his career. Bouris values Kennedy's ambition and business acumen, noting that despite his youth, Kennedy has successfully expanded his family's luxury goods business.