Our Leaders | Xero ZA

Executive team

Steve Vamos

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Steve leads the global growth and performance of Xero. With more than 30 years’ experience in global technology and digital media, Steve has worked in leading international businesses including Apple, IBM and Microsoft. Steve led the growth of online media business Ninemsn from start-up to industry leader as the company’s CEO. Steve previously served on the boards of Telstra, David Jones and Medibank, and has an honours degree in civil engineering from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Anna Curzon

CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER

Anna leads Xero’s product teams, spearheading product management, development, design, and product marketing to bring more exciting Xero features to partners and small businesses. Anna has a wealth of experience in online financial services and operations. Before joining Xero as managing director for New Zealand in 2016, Anna led internet banking at ASB and the digital first strategy at Spark. Anna has a bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate diploma in commerce from the University of Auckland.

Kirsty Godfrey-Billy

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Kirsty leads Xero’s global financial team, driving financial outcomes, actively managing the group’s financial performance, optimising the business's balance sheet and communicating the group’s strategic and financial priorities to key stakeholders, including investors. She also has management of Xero’s global facilities team. Kirsty is a Chartered Accountant with 25 years’ experience in the finance and technology sectors both in private practice and commercial technology roles. Kirsty holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Management degree from Lincoln University.

Rachael Powell

CHIEF CUSTOMER, PEOPLE AND MARKETING OFFICER

Rachael is responsible for Xero’s customer success, people experience, marketing and communications functions globally. She has previously held positions in strategy, marketing, talent management and channel development across online and technology businesses. In her current capacity, she brings together her dual passions; delighting our customers and nurturing our people. Rachael believes that customer experience must resonate from the inside-out and advocates for positive engagement programs to effectively mobilise the business strategy at scale. She has a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology, a Masters in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Marketing).

Mark Rees

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Mark leads the platform, security, data and automation teams at Xero and is responsible for enabling Xero’s technology platform for growth and innovation. Before joining Xero, Mark was the chief technology officer for Microsoft New Zealand and the chief product and technology officer for Trade Me. Mark has a PhD and bachelor of science in chemistry from the University of Canterbury.

Chaman Sidhu

CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER & COMPANY SECRETARY

Chaman leads Xero’s legal functions globally and has more than 20 years’ experience in legal operations, strategy, compliance, governance and risk management. She has previously worked as group general counsel and company secretary for Envato and Lonely Planet Publications. Chaman is dual-qualified in Australia and the US, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Damien Tampling

CHIEF STRATEGY & CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Damien leads Xero’s global strategy and corporate development teams, and oversees Xero’s strategic planning activities through the Integration Management Office and the Project Manager Office. Prior to joining Xero, Damien spent 13 years at Deloitte in a number of senior executive roles. He holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (and its equivalent in Singapore), is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Business from RMIT University, Melbourne.

Executive Leadership - Regional Leaders

Craig Hudson

MANAGING DIRECTOR, NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS

Craig is responsible for promoting the small business economy in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and Xero’s relationships with government, financial institutions, and enterprise. Craig joined Xero in the UK where he led the business into market in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. Prior to joining Xero, Craig played professional rugby in New Zealand, France, England and Wales.

Trent Innes

MANAGING DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIA & ASIA

Trent is responsible for driving Xero’s next phase of growth in Australia and Asia. After joining Xero as national sales director in 2013, Trent was appointed managing director in 2016. He began his career as a certified practising accountant and has more than 17 years’ experience growing and managing major accounting and IT businesses. Prior to joining Xero, Trent managed the Microsoft Business Group in Australia.

Gary Turner

MANAGING DIRECTOR, UNITED KINGDOM & EMEA

Gary is responsible for leading Xero’s operations across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the UK’s accounting software industry, and before joining Xero, he was the product group director for Microsoft Dynamics. Gary is a board advisor to Enterprise Nation and, since 2005, he has sat on the IT Faculty Technical Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.

Tony Ward

PRESIDENT OF AMERICAS

Tony is responsible for expanding Xero’s businesses in the Americas. He has 20 years of experience in senior leadership positions with global technology companies, including Microsoft Australia, LinkedIn, Spark, SurveyMonkey and Dropbox. He’s also founded a successful cloud-based start up, Business365, aimed at small businesses. Tony holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

About Xero