Intuit vs Xero: Founders, CEOs and History
Intuit was founded in 1983 by Scott Cook, Tom Proulx and is led by Sasan Goodarzi. Xero was founded in 2006 by Rod Drury, Hamish Edwards and is led by Sukhinder Singh Cassidy.
Company facts
Founders
Intuit
Scott Cook
Scott Cook co-founded Intuit in 1983 after working in brand management at Procter & Gamble and as a consultant at Bain & Company. He served as CEO until 1994, when Bill Campbell took over, and has remained on the board.
Tom Proulx
Tom Proulx was a Stanford University student when he joined Scott Cook in 1983 and wrote the original Quicken program. He led product development during Intuit's early years and later left the company's day-to-day management.
Xero
Rod Drury
Rod Drury is a New Zealand software entrepreneur who co-founded Xero in Wellington in 2006 and served as its chief executive until 2018. Before Xero he built software businesses including AfterMail, which he sold to Quest Software.
Hamish Edwards
Hamish Edwards co-founded Xero with Rod Drury in Wellington in 2006 and was part of the founding team that built the original cloud accounting product for New Zealand small businesses.
CEOs and their tenures
Intuit
- Brad Smith2008–2018
Former CEO & Executive Chairman
He left Intuit with a recurring-revenue cloud business and served as executive chairman until 2022.
Source - Sasan Goodarzi2019–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Revenue grew from $6.8 billion in fiscal 2019 to $21.4 billion in fiscal 2026 under Goodarzi, though the 2026 restructuring and slower TurboTax units drove a sharp share-price decline.
Source - Sandeep Aujla2024–present
Chief Financial Officer
CFO since August 2024, succeeding Michelle Clatterbuck.
Source
Xero
- Rod Drury2006–2018
Co-Founder & Former Chief Executive Officer (2006-2018)
Built Xero from a Wellington start-up into an international cloud accounting company.
Source - Sukhinder Singh Cassidy2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
Under her leadership revenue grew from ~$812 million (NZ$1.40 billion) in FY23 to ~$1.59 billion (NZ$2.75 billion) in FY26, and Xero moved from a net loss to a net profit.
Source
Timeline: Intuit and Xero side by side
1984Intuit
Quicken Launches
Intuit releases Quicken, its first personal finance program, built to mimic a paper checkbook.
1992Intuit
QuickBooks Launches
Intuit introduces QuickBooks, accounting software written in plain language for small business owners.
1993Intuit
IPO and ChipSoft Merger
Intuit lists on Nasdaq and merges with ChipSoft, the maker of TurboTax.
1995Intuit
Microsoft Deal Abandoned
Microsoft drops its 1994 agreement to buy Intuit after the U.S. Justice Department sues to block it.
2006Xero
Rod Drury and Hamish Edwards found Xero in Wellington, New Zealand.
2007Xero
Xero lists on the NZX.
2012Xero
Xero lists on the ASX.
2016Intuit
Quicken Sold
Intuit sells Quicken to H.I.G. Capital to focus on QuickBooks and TurboTax in the cloud.
2018Xero
Steve Vamos succeeds Rod Drury as CEO; Xero buys Hubdoc and delists from the NZX.
2020Intuit
Credit Karma Acquired
Intuit completes its acquisition of Credit Karma in December 2020.
2021Intuit
Mailchimp Acquired
Intuit closes its roughly $12 billion purchase of Mailchimp in November 2021.
2023Intuit
Intuit Assist and GenOS
Intuit launches its generative AI operating system GenOS and the Intuit Assist assistant across its products.
2023Xero
Sukhinder Singh Cassidy becomes CEO.
2024Intuit
Mint Shut Down
Intuit closes Mint in March 2024 and moves users to Credit Karma.
2025Xero
Claire Bramley becomes CFO on 1 April; Xero completes the Melio acquisition on 15 October.
2026Intuit
17% Workforce Cut
In May 2026 Intuit announces about 3,000 job cuts and reduced Mailchimp investment; shares fall about 20%.
2026Intuit
Revenue Tops $20 Billion
Fiscal 2026 revenue reaches $21.4 billion, and Mailchimp becomes a separate operating segment from August 1, 2026.
2026Xero
Matan Bar named CEO of Xero US; FY26 revenue reaches ~$1.59 billion (NZ$2.75 billion).
Acquisitions
Intuit
- Mailchimp2021$12B
- Credit Karma2020$8.1B
- ChipSoft (TurboTax)1993Undisclosed
Questions about Intuit vs Xero
Who is the CEO of Intuit Inc. and Xero?
Intuit Inc. is led by Sasan Goodarzi and Xero is led by Sukhinder Singh Cassidy. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Intuit Inc. founded vs Xero?
Intuit Inc. was founded in 1983 — 23 years before Xero, which was founded in 2006. Intuit Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Xero.
How many employees does Intuit Inc. have compared to Xero?
Intuit Inc. employs approximately 18,200 people, while Xero employs approximately 4,400. Intuit Inc. has the larger workforce at 18,200 employees, compared to Xero's 4,400. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Intuit Inc. and Xero headquartered?
Intuit Inc. is headquartered in United States and Xero is headquartered in New Zealand. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Intuit Inc. and Xero?
Intuit Inc. was founded by Scott Cook, Tom Proulx. Xero was founded by Rod Drury, Hamish Edwards.
Which company has a longer operating history — Intuit Inc. or Xero?
Intuit Inc. has been operating for approximately 43 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Xero has been in operation for around 20 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Intuit vs Xero overview