Awards body contacts Sir Rod Drury after ‘serious issues raised’
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
The organisation behind the New Zealander of the Year awards says it has contacted Supreme winner Sir Rod Drury, after a Stuff investigation revealed a former employee’s complaint and internal investigation when he was Xero CEO. It says no concerns were identified during the 2026 judging process, but its policy does allow for awards to be rescinded in certain circumstances. Paula Penfold reports.
The organisation behind the New Zealander of the Year awards has contacted 2026 supreme award winner Sir Rod Drury following a Stuff investigation revealing he was the subject of a misconduct complaint and investigation during his time as CEO of Xero.
In response to questions from Stuff, the awards office confirmed it has contacted Drury “acknowledging today’s reporting”.
“We recognise the seriousness of the issues raised and our responsibility is to ensure any matters are handled through our established process, with fairness to all parties,” a spokesperson said.
Drury was crowned New Zealander of the Year at a gala dinner in Auckland in March, recognised as a “pioneering tech entrepreneur who continues to shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s technology landscape through innovation, investment, and mentorship”.
Drury founded accounting software firm Xero in 2005 and was its CEO for 11 years.
On Wednesday, Stuff reported former employee Ally Naylor’s account of her three years at Xero, where she began as an IT project coordinator in 2014, aged 29.
She claimed Drury invited her to his apartment on multiple occasions in the context of work-related meetings, where she alleges he behaved inappropriately towards her.
She described resulting distress and ongoing impacts from what she alleges happened.
“It’s hard to put into words how this has impacted me emotionally,” she wrote in a formal complaint to Xero in 2017. “There’s a range of emotions from shame, confusion, fear, to anger and hopelessness. Hopelessness because of the power imbalance between the CEO and me.”
An internal investigation followed Naylor’s complaint, the results of which have not been disclosed.
In March 2018, Drury resigned as Xero’s CEO.
In a phone call with Stuff on Monday, Drury said that had nothing to do with the complaint or investigation.
“That was a separate issue. I stepped down because it was time to go.”
He said the timing was due to succession planning.
In relation to Naylor, he did not accept he had done anything wrong, but offered an apology over any distress she felt.
“If I’ve caused people distress, I would apologise for it. I’ve always tried to look after staff. We’ve always had a really good culture and environment.”
The awards office said Drury was widely recognised for his contribution to New Zealand through leadership in the technology sector.
“His entrepreneurship and wider philanthropy was the basis for his selection as New Zealander of the Year.”
It said awardees were decided through an independent judging process which included police vetting, public scrutiny of finalists, and signed disclosures from nominees regarding “matters that could bring the awards into disrepute”.
“No evidence was presented or found by the Awards Office to cause concern about his nomination during the 2026 judging process. We will consider any relevant information should it be formally raised with the Awards Office.”
Under its policy, if concerns arise about an awards recipient, including where there may have been conduct that is in conflict with the spirit and intent of the awards, or is damaging to the awards’ reputation, a review panel can be convened.
That panel can then determine whether there are reasonable grounds to rescind an award, “in order to protect the reputation, integrity and value of the awards”.
Drury has been approached for comment.
In the Monday phone conversation with Stuff, asked if he would relinquish his New Zealander of the Year award, Drury said, “If I thought there was anything really bad that I’d done, I certainly wouldn’t have accepted the award. But I think the balance of what I’ve been doing with work and how I’ve treated people and champion people really speaks for itself.”
However, he acknowledged concerns in light of the public recognition.
“I can’t change anything. If I’ve caused people distress, I would apologise for it.”