Xero, the global small business platform, today announced it has appointed Jeff Ryan as its Chief People Officer, to replace Nicole Reid, who has decided to depart Xero after six years.
Commencing on 1 April 2025, Jeff will be responsible for leading Xero’s people experience function globally. Jeff is an established global technology and software human resources executive, multi-time Chief People Officer, board member and advisor with more than 25 years’ experience. He brings extensive global HR leadership capability to Xero and proven experience managing global expansion strategies.
Prior to Xero, Jeff was Chief People Officer at McAfee, Chief People Officer at Zynga and Chief People Officer at GoPro. He has also held senior HR leadership roles with CBS Interactive and Electronic Arts, and was previously a Board director for Magic Memories, a New Zealand-headquartered tourism and entertainment technology company.
Jeff is a Charter Member for C100, a non-for-profit that supports Canadian tech entrepreneurs to build and scale impactful businesses. He holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a Bachelor of Sociology from UCLA. Jeff is a US-based executive, but will be spending much of his time in the global small business platform’s offices in Australia and New Zealand, and around the world.
Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy said: “As we continue to execute our FY25-27 strategy and foster our purpose and performance-driven culture, I’m excited to appoint someone as credentialed as Jeff to Xero. Jeff’s deep global people leadership experience with listed technology and software, start-up and private equity-backed growth companies will bring immense value to the platform as we enable the platform to move faster for our customers and do the best work of their lives, while preserving our unique culture.”
Jeff Ryan, incoming Xero Chief People Officer said: “I’m honoured to be joining the platform, a global and purpose-driven organisation with huge potential to improve the lives of people in small business, their advisors and communities. I’m excited to join a company with a strong culture, clear strategy and significant opportunity to win. Having worked for small family run businesses and early stage start ups, I have a deep appreciation of the challenges and joy that comes from wearing many hats, and how technology can save time and improve decision making. I look forward to helping nurture Xero’s culture and further strengthening how we operate to deliver faster for our customers.”
Nicole Reid, Xero’s current Chief People Officer, will remain at the platform through to the middle of April to ensure a seamless transition. In her six years at the platform, Nicole has driven the company’s people strategy through its strong global growth, multiple acquisitions, COVID-19 disruption, an increased focus on growth and profitability, and a refreshed strategy and performance-based culture.
Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy concluded: “I’d like to thank Nicole for her significant contribution to the platform and our people over the past six years as we continue to put small businesses and their advisors at the core of everything the platform does. This includes supporting me to transition into the CEO role and playing an important role in planning for this new phase of leadership as we continue to strengthen our unique culture at Xero. On behalf of everyone at Xero, we extend Nicole our very best wishes for the future.”
