As Xero’s UK Managing Director, Kate Hayward is deeply committed to supporting the nation’s small business community. Her empathetic approach is shaped by her own background in accounting and her experience watching her father run his own small business. She is a vocal advocate who actively shapes the conversation around the challenges facing small firms, championing the crucial role of cloud accounting in simplifying compliance, especially with HMRC’s Making Tax Digital scheme. Kate views AI-powered technology as a vital tool to empower entrepreneurs, fostering growth and resilience within the sector. Through initiatives like the ‘Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme,’ she is driving tangible support and helping to build a more vibrant small business ecosystem across the UK.
She joined Xero in 2019 and has held critical leadership roles in Xero’s strategy and operations teams, globally and in the UK. Prior to Xero, Kate held strategy roles at Deloitte Australia and KPMG. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from the University of South Hampton and trained and qualified with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS).
