Xero founder, Rod Drury says the backlash against his decision to de-list from the NZX hit him by surprise.

The accounting software company chief executive has been awarded the inaugural Sheffield Visionary Leader Award at the Deloitte 200 Business Awards.

It's comes after week after he sold nearly $95 million worth of shares in his company.

He told Mike Hosking the company is experiencing massive growth, and the decision to list on the Australian Stock Exchange will have long term benefits.

"We are much more like an Amazon style business where we need those growth investors that just say grow, grow, grow."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ROD DRURY SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING