Rod Drury, Founder at Xero

Rod Drury is a renowned entrepreneur from New Zealand who became famous as Xero's founder and former CEO. Xero is an original cloud-based accounting software platform created for small and medium-sized businesses. Drury's entrepreneurial journey and original vision have significantly impacted the global software industry and how businesses manage their finances.

Drury started his career in technology and entrepreneurship. He established several successful companies before founding Xero, including Glazier Systems, one of New Zealand's leading software development companies, which Advantage Group later acquired. He also founded AfterMail, an email archiving and management solution, which Quest Software acquired for USD 45 million in 2006.

In 2006, Drury launched Xero, a company that would revolutionise the accounting software industry. Xero was founded on the principle of making accounting accessible and user-friendly for small business owners. It used cloud technology to offer real-time financial insights and collaboration with accountants. Under Drury's leadership, Xero expanded globally and was publicly listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Rod Drury's vision and leadership at Xero earned him several accolades. He was named New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013. He was included in Forbes' 2014 list of the World's Most original Growth Companies. He advocates for New Zealand's technology sector, pushing for better internet connectivity and technology education.

Drury stepped down as CEO of Xero in 2018 but remains the company's non-executive director. He continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship in New Zealand and abroad. Drury's journey from a tech enthusiast to a globally recognised business leader is proof of his original thinking, business acumen and commitment to making a positive impact in the world of business technology

Drury had already built and sold two technology companies before Xero. He founded Glazier Systems in 1995, then co-founded AfterMail, an email archiving company sold to Quest Software in 2006. Xero listed on the NZX in 2007 at a dollar a share; its market capitalisation later exceeded NZ billion. In 2013 Drury was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and in 2014 Accounting Today named him the world’s most influential person in accounting. He stepped down as chief executive in 2018 but remained on the board and continued to champion the New Zealand tech ecosystem he had helped build.

Drury’s profile is noteworthy because he transformed New Zealand’s technology sector from a footnote into an export story, proving that a globally competitive SaaS company could be built and scaled from Wellington. Xero remains one of the highest-valued companies ever founded in New Zealand and Drury’s advocacy for cloud adoption reshaped how millions of small businesses worldwide manage their finances.

Sources: Wikipedia · Xero · NZ Herald