Graham Shaw Non-Executive Director

Graham is a chartered accountant with 30 years experience in business. He provides commercial advisory services to SMEs, mentoring advice to senior executives and sits on a number of corporate and not-for-profit advisory boards.

Graham spent 10 years with KPMG advising small and medium sized enterprises. He then joined Works Infrastructure where he held a number of finance roles before being appointed Chief Executive, leading the organisation to substantial growth and successful expansion into Australia. Graham has also been CEO of Kensington Swan, one of New Zealand’s national law firms.

Graham is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, an accredited management mentor and a Companion of the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand.

Guy Haddleton Non-Executive Director

Guy Haddleton is co-founder and chief executive of award winning, US product innovator Ascadia, which develops and markets products for consumer and business-to-business markets.

Between 1990 and 2002 Guy was founder, chairman and chief executive of enterprise performance planning software company Adaytum, which after becoming market leader in the UK and Europe, expanded into the US and Asia Pacific. Adaytum was sold in 2002 for $US160 million.

Before Adaytum, Guy was managing director at London marketing and subscription management company TV Direct. Guy has also held senior management positions in the UK distribution industry.

After emigrating from New Zealand in 1985 Guy has been based in the US. Guy is now looking to spend a greater proportion of his time in New Zealand.

Rod Drury Chief Executive / Executive Director

A recipient of New Zealand’s most prestigious hi-tech award the Tait Flying Kiwi in 2009, Rod is renowned for entrepreneurial skills in the technology sector. In early 2006 prior to setting up Xero, Rod sold his award-winning email archiving software company, Aftermail, to USA publicly listed company, Quest Software.

In 1995 Rod developed one of New Zealand's first Microsoft development companies, Glazier Systems, which was acquired by Advantage Group in 1999 and continues today as Intergen. In 2000, Rod co-founded Boston based Context Connect, which holds several mobile directory patents.

In the late 1980s to early 1990s Rod worked primarily for Ernst & Young, as well as spending several years working on telecommunication billing systems both in New Zealand and the USA. Throughout his career Rod has maintained a close relationship with Microsoft and was selected as New Zealand's first representative on the prestigious Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Regional Director programme, holding the role from 1997 to 2000. Rod achieved Microsoft Most Valuable Professional status for his work in the early days of Active Server Pages.

Rod is a director on the board of the New Zealand Stock Exchange and also sits on the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Beachhead Advisory Board. Previously he was on the board of TradeMe and SQL Services.

In 2008 Rod was conferred as an Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Computer Society (HFNZCS) recognising his achievements, ongoing advocacy, and willingness to assist others in the industry.

Hamish Edwards Co-Founder and Global Head of Sales

Hamish is a co-founder of Xero who oversees growth in existing regions and our expansion into new markets.

Formerly Hamish established Xero in the UK where he was responsible for banking relationships, partnerships and the accounting industry.

Hamish is a Chartered Accountant and before Xero he was the CEO of one of New Zealand's fastest growing chartered accounting and consulting firms, Openside. As the chairman of Openside Hamish continues to help fast growth technology businesses with business development, funding and new market entry assistance.

Hamish is a small business expert and has been featured in or written for Real FD, Accountancy Age, Accounting Web, the Fairfax Group, the National Business Review, M2 Magazine and various other publications.

Alastair Grigg Chief Operating Officer

Alastair joined Xero from Air New Zealand, where he was Chief Information Officer for the last three and a half years. At Air New Zealand Alastair was responsible for an extensive global portfolio of more than 400 enterprise systems, 200 staff and significant IT infrastructure outsource operations contracts with IBM, Axon and Telecom New Zealand.

Also in this role, Alastair oversaw the transformation of IT service performance, delivering new strategic initiatives such as the innovative Airpoints Dollars loyalty scheme and online booking and customer self service systems, as well as reducing operating costs by more than $40 million.

Alastair has 16 years of IT industry experience, including roles with IT vendors such as IBM, Computer Associates and Geac and contrasting roles with successful start-up ventures such as Telecom Xtra, Glazier Systems and www.utilyx.com. Alastair’s broad experience traverses business establishment, general management, business development, systems development and programme management.

Paula Jackson General Manager Marketing

As General Manager Marketing, Paula Jackson leads the marketing strategy and programme for Xero. Paula has more than 10 years marketing experience with roles in the telecommunications, banking and IT industries.

Paula joined Xero from Vodafone where she was Channel Marketing Manager responsible for managing the acquisition portfolio in both the consumer and small enterprise segments.

Previously Paula was at Telecom for more than six years where she held a number of critical acquisition roles in the consumer mobile division and headed up Trade Marketing for the mobile and wired parts of the business.

Paul Williams General Manager Finance

Paul has the critical role of General Manager Finance for Xero. Paul is an integral part of the company’s executive team in a reporting and financial control capacity, and works closely with the board of directors.

Paul joined Xero after six years at Telecom, where he held various finance roles within the Mobile and Consumer operating segments.

Previously Paul was Chief Financial Officer at Works Infrastructure. He was also a Senior Audit Manager at Price Waterhouse which included working in the United States and the UK.

Paul is a Chartered Accountant with some 25 years' experience.

Leanne Graham Country Manager, New Zealand

Leanne's role is to help move Xero into its next strategic, global phase. Leanne has an extensive background in sales, marketing and channel enablement in the ERP software sector.

As a co-founder of accounting and business management software company Enprise Solutions, Leanne led sales and marketing from the start-up phase to the organization becoming recognised globally.

Before this Leanne's worked with a range of accounting software products including Exonet and SAP.

Leanne is based in our Auckland office.

Gary Turner UK Managing Director

Gary heads Xero's operations in the UK and is a twenty-year veteran of the UK accounting software industry.

Gary was formerly with Microsoft UK where he was product group director for the fast growing Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM product families.

Prior to Microsoft, Gary spent four years as managing director of accounting software vendor Pegasus Software, which is now a subsidiary of Infor Global Solutions

Gary has acted in an advisory capacity to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales' since 2005 where he has a seat on the Institute's IT Faculty Technical Committee, advising on technology matters relating to ICAEW members.

Wayne Schmidt Country Manager, Australia

Wayne has 25 years experience in the accounting software industry and in this time has worked in a number of areas including computer programming sales, marketing and senior management.

Wayne joined Xero from crisis management SaaS (software-as-a-service) company Whispir. Prior to this, Wayne established and headed MYOB’s UK Business Division and assisted with MYOB’s entry into China. Other roles Wayne has had at MYOB Australia include running the marketing division and driving business through accounting partnerships.

Wayne has also had his own business and understands the vagaries of the SME world. His passion is working with accountants to help them to have a better relationship with their clients and grow their practice.

Craig Walker Chief Technology Officer

New Zealand Hi-Tech Young Achiever of the Year in 2007, Craig Walker leads Xero's software development team. Craig has spent his career building mission critical Internet applications, including co-founding software-as-a-service provider Viatx and working for leading Microsoft consulting firm Glazier Systems, now Intergen.

Philip Fierlinger Head of Design

Philip Fierlinger founded iconic US digital design firm Turntable.com, whose clients included Apple, Sony and Macromedia. Before joining Xero, Philip worked for acclaimed web agency Shift, working on the NewZealand.com and IRD websites. His work has garnered numerous design accolades, including two Webby Awards.

Andrew Tokeley Product Development Manager

Andrew is responsible for managing the flow of exciting new features at Xero and supporting the product team to deliver these.

Andrew's career began as an independent statistical consultant. His love of numbers evolved into a career in IT focusing on building and architecting solutions on the Microsoft platform. Prior to joining Xero Andrew worked for 7 years at Intergen, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. As Development Manager, he was responsible for supporting and leading a team of up to 40 people.

Andrew has maintained his interest in technology and is a regular speaker at TechEd and local user groups. In 2010 Andrew's community involvement was recognised by Microsoft and he was awarded a Silverlight MVP.