Sir Rod Drury's former chef becomes third woman to allege unwanted advances

Key facts

• Megan Ruddle worked as a private chef on Sir Rod Drury's luxury boat and at his Queenstown property.
• Ruddle alleges Drury kissed her on the lips about 50 times, starting shortly after she was hired.
• She signed a non-disclosure agreement after a confidential settlement over a personal grievance complaint in 2025.
• Drury denies the allegations, stating 'At no time was there any form of intimate or physical relationship.'
• Ruddle made a police complaint last month and has been interviewed by police.
• Two other former employees, Ally Naylor and 'Amy', have also accused Drury of inappropriate conduct.
• Xero conducted an internal investigation in 2017 after Naylor's complaint; findings were not publicly released.
• Xero later opened an external review led by King's Counsel Maria Dew.

A third accuser steps forward

Megan Ruddle, who served as Sir Rod Drury’s private chef on his yacht and at his Queenstown home, has become the third woman to allege that the Xero founder and New Zealander of the Year made unwanted advances. She claims Drury kissed her on the lips repeatedly — about 50 times, she told Stuff — beginning shortly after she was hired. Ruddle said the behaviour occurred during meetings and other interactions, leaving her feeling pressured and uncomfortable. Drury has denied the allegations, telling the Herald that 'at no time was there any form of intimate or physical relationship, nor did I ever try to initiate one.' He confirmed that Ruddle’s employment was terminated and that a settlement was reached, but he maintains the claims are 'not supported by the facts.'

A confidential settlement and a police complaint

Ruddle’s allegations emerged after she signed a non-disclosure agreement as part of a confidential settlement over a personal grievance complaint she filed against Drury and his company Oto60 in 2025. The agreement includes no admission of liability from Drury or his company. Despite the NDA, Ruddle decided to speak out after Drury was knighted and named New Zealander of the Year — honours she said he did not deserve. 'It didn’t paint the right picture of the character that he has. I felt that New Zealand deserved to know the real Rod Drury,' she told Stuff. Last month, Ruddle also lodged a complaint with the police and has since been interviewed by officers. She said she never wanted to settle or sign the agreement, adding, 'I think it’s in the best interests of people knowing what actually happened. I don’t think that [this] should be able to legally be covered up by an agreement.'

Earlier allegations from former Xero employees

The first public accusation came from Ally Naylor, a former Xero employee, who said Drury engaged in unwanted and inappropriate sexual contact starting in 2015. the behaviour to Xero in 2017, triggering an internal investigation whose findings have never been released. Drury has denied any wrongdoing, describing his relationship with Naylor as 'limited and consensual.' Naylor told the Herald she stands by her allegation, noting that 'a formal complaint is not made lightly, particularly by a junior employee against a well-known CEO, at personal and professional risk.' A second former employee, referred to as 'Amy,' told Stuff that Drury made sexual advances when she worked at Xero. She said he invited her to his apartment to discuss a job opportunity, but the meeting quickly turned inappropriate. A colleague, Tim, said Amy confided in him the next morning after he noticed 'she looked a bit weepy.' He described Amy as 'a pretty robust person' not prone to exaggeration. A representative for Drury declined to comment on the new complaint.

Xero’s response and external review

Following Naylor’s public complaint, Xero opened an external investigation led by King’s Counsel Maria Dew. The company has not disclosed the scope or findings of that review. The internal investigation from 2017 also remains confidential. Drury, who stepped down as Xero CEO in 2018, has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that any relationships he had were consensual and mutual. The accumulation of accusations — now three women — has put renewed scrutiny on Drury’s conduct and on how Xero handled the initial complaint. The company has not commented on the latest allegations.

Wider implications and what comes next

Ruddle’s decision to break her NDA and go public, along with her police complaint, adds legal and reputational pressure on Drury. The police investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed. The case also raises questions about the use of non-disclosure agreements in sexual misconduct cases, with Ruddle arguing they can shield misconduct from public view. For Drury, a prominent figure in New Zealand’s tech industry and a recipient of the country’s highest civilian honour, the allegations threaten to tarnish a legacy built on founding Xero, a cloud-accounting company that became a global success. The outcome of the police inquiry and any further revelations could shape public perception and potentially lead to further legal action.

A pattern of allegations emerges

With three women now making similar accusations — unwanted kissing, sexual advances, and inappropriate behaviour — the narrative around Sir Rod Drury has shifted from isolated incidents to a pattern. The consistency of the accounts, spanning from 2015 to the present, suggests a broader issue that Xero and Drury have struggled to address transparently. As the police investigation proceeds and the public learns more, the case highlights the challenges faced by junior employees who come forward against powerful figures. Ruddle’s words — 'I felt that New Zealand deserved to know the real Rod Drury' — encapsulate the stakes for all involved.

The bottom line

• Megan Ruddle is the third woman to accuse Sir Rod Drury of unwanted advances, alleging he kissed her repeatedly while she worked as his private chef.
• Ruddle signed an NDA after a confidential settlement but broke it after Drury received top national honours.
• She has also filed a police complaint, which is under investigation.
• Two former Xero employees, Ally Naylor and 'Amy,' have made similar allegations of inappropriate conduct.
• Xero conducted internal and external investigations, but findings have not been released.
• Drury denies all allegations, claiming any relationships were consensual.