Andy Lark departs accounting software firm Xero
One of Australia’s most well-know marketers, Andy Lark, has departed his global role with accounting software company Xero.
Lark, the former chief marketing officer of Commonwealth Bank, joined the New Zealand based company just over two years ago and was part of a team that spearheaded its push into the US market.
In a major management overhaul Xero announced that the role of chief marketing and revenue officer would be scrapped and new lines of reporting established.
“To leverage growing management capability in each of Xero’s operating geographies, the company is implementing a flatter organisational structure with country managers reporting directly to the chief executive officer,” the company said in a statement to the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
“The function of the chief marketing and revenue officer will be replaced by a chief marketing officer, who will focus on global brand and marketing communications.”
It said that with Lark’s role no longer available he would be leaving the company.
“Given the changes to the global organisational structure, Andy Lark has taken the opportunity to pursue new ventures. Andy has had a long-standing relationship with Xero, previously consulting with senior executives, and has played a key role in driving Xero’s success and building capability across regions to provide a scalable platform for continued global growth.”
Xero will expand with plans to focus the running of the business out of its Denver offices.
Lark joined Xero in 2014 after having previously worked in global marketing at Dell and then taking on the job as chief marketing and online officer with the Commonwealth Bank.
Under his guidance the bank appointed M&C Saatchi to its account and brought in the new line ‘Can’ which has underpinned its marketing since.
Last year he reunited with the agency when he appointed M&C to handle the Xero account.
Surely some Xero people have something to say about this? Where are all the comments??
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The stock exchange filing and commentary above isn’t entirely clear. Was he made redundant or did he resign? Not sure why you’d report without providing such obvious detail?
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At some point the CEO has to take responsibility for the revolving door of executive hires. Is it time for a proper global CEO at Xero?
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