Thursday 19 January 2017 03:19 PM
Xero chairman Chris Liddell resigns to take Trump job, director Graham Smith takes over
By Paul McBeth
Jan. 19 (BusinessDesk) - Xero chairman Chris Liddell will step down from the board at the end of the week to take up a
role in US president-elect Donald Trump's administration.
US-based director Graham Smith, a former Salesforce chief financial officer, will assume the chair from the close of
business tomorrow, Xero said in a statement. Smith has been on the board for two years and chairs the audit and risk
management committee.
Liddell told Xero he has to step down due to his new role, announced yesterday, as an assistant to Trump, heading up the
strategic development group and taking a lead on the incoming president’s big-ticket projects. Republican candidate
Trump won last year’s November election with a campaign promising major infrastructure spending, tax reform, and more
protectionist trade and immigration policies. He will officially take over the White House at his inauguration on Friday
in Washington.
“Chris leaves us in a good position with strong global revenue growth, our subscription revenues growing faster than our
costs and a goal to achieve cash breakeven with cash on hand," chief executive and founder Rod Drury said. "We wish him
all the best in his exciting new role."
Last year, Xero centralised its US operations in Denver where it plans to service the world’s biggest economy with hubs
in San Francisco, New York, Austin and Seattle. The company hired former Capital One executive Keri Gohman to run its
American business, which is central to the New Zealand firm’s ambitions to be a global player.
Xero shares rose 1 percent to $18.51 and are up 12 percent so far this year.
(BusinessDesk)
ends