CMS Cameron McKenna has named Central and Eastern European (CEE) managing partner Duncan Weston as managing partner Dick Tyler’s replacement.

Weston, a relationship partner for private equity clients in the CEE, takes over at the end of Tyler’s second term next May.

Under the firm’s rules a managing partner can only serve a maximum of two terms. During Tyler’s eight years the firm’s average profit per equity partner (PEP) has doubled.

Weston, who has been voted in by the firm’s partnership, was instrumental in Camerons’ CEE practice tripling its income and overseeing the firm’s merger with Eastern European commercial law firm Hayhurst Robinson in 2006.

Under Weston’s leadership the firm has built up an eight office network in the CEE including large expansion in the Ukrainian capital Kiev this September.

Weston said that Tyler had been an excellent managing partner and is going to be a tough act to follow.

“My initial priority will be to build on our recent success, to enable us to achieve our three-year objectives,” added Weston.

Richard Price, Camerons’ senior partner, said he is looking forward to building on the progress the firm has made over the last few years.

Price said: “We are in excellent shape and are very excited about the future. Our partners have made a great choice in Duncan.”

The news comes after the firm announced half year turnover of £103m – a 21 per cent increase on the same period last year.

The aim of the firm’s three-year strategy is for Camerons to have achieved a turnover of at least £250m by 2009.