Person of the Week: Rod Drury, Xero

Rod Drury founded global small business accounting platform Xero leading it to a top performing $AU6B+ ASX100 company employing over 2500 people in 25+ locations. Rod remains as largest shareholder and non executive Director.

For more than a decade Rod led Xero from humble beginnings with four employees working in a Wellington apartment to a global software business and ASX 100 company.

Rod started his career at Ernst & Young and went on to establish and lead a number of innovative technology businesses that were subsequently acquired. Previously Rod was an independent director of the New Zealand Stock Exchange and Trade Me during its acquisition by Fairfax.

Awards:

After creating a number of successful technology businesses Rod was named by Investopedia as one of the Worlds Top 10 Serial Entrepreneurs, awarded AMS 2017 Global Marketer of the Year, 2017 Deloitte Top 200 Visionary Leader, 2013 EY New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year, NZ Herald Business Leader of the year in 2012, NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame, NZ Hi-Tech Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and 2007,  World Class New Zealander for ICT in 2008 and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of IT Professionals NZ.