Xero Australia

Key Challenges

• Establish the Xero AU People function (operational and strategy)

• Manage growing pains, rapid growth and change while maintaining an exceptional values based culture.

Process

• Chris was the first HR hire outside of Xero HQ in New Zealand and employee 40 in AU

• Key focus was supporting the MD AU in establishing an experienced, diverse and committed Senior Leadership Team who lived and breathed the values

• Chris then focused on building and maintaining employee engagement by introducing pulse surveys and actioning areas for correction/improvement

Outcomes

• Xero AU grew to 340 employees over 4.5 years

• Engagement score of 8/10

• Grew People Team to 7

• Best Places to Work Top 20 Employers 2014

• Finalist CEO Magazine HR Executive of the Year 2017

• Finalist HR Team of the Year 2017

Learnings

• Don’t be afraid to make the tough decisions early your team will benefit

• Culture starts at the top with a great leader who builds a trusting, collaborative leadership team who are values aligned

• Rapid growth is difficult because it creates a change rich environment - make sure you recruit the right people on that journey (those with the appetite for growth, development and change)