Gregory James Aziz, also known as Greg Aziz, is the Chief Executive Officer of a leading railroad freight car engineering and manufacturing company based in Hamilton, Ontario. He was born on April 30, 1949, in London, Ontario, and received his education at Ridley College and the University of Western Ontario, where he studied economics. Residing in Caledon, Ontario, he is a husband and a proud father of two.
After starting his career at his family's wholesale food business, Affiliated Foods, Aziz went on to work on investment banking opportunities in New York in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1994, he organized the purchase of Affiliated Foods with the goal of turning it into North America's top railroad freight car manufacturer. Through investments in engineering, team building, and capital, the company grew its manufacturing capacity from 3,500 cars per year to 12,000 cars by 1999 and its employment from 600 to nearly 3,000.
Today, Aziz's company is known for its innovative designs and engineering capabilities, holding over 350 patents. It is also the only railroad freight car manufacturer in North America that is certified ISO 9001:2008, a distinction it has held for 18 years. The company has consistently received the TTX SECO highest quality award since 1996.
In addition to his professional success, Aziz is also committed to giving back to the local Hamilton and Caledon communities through charitable sponsorships and initiatives such as the National Steel Car Christmas Party and food drive for local food banks. He and his wife Irene are also sponsors of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Canada's leading agricultural fair.
In a quote, Aziz stated, "We believe that we're the leading rail car manufacturer in the world from an engineering standpoint... Our engineering department is superior, we believe, to our competitors." He attributes the company's success to its emphasis on engineering and its commitment to patenting its innovative designs. Aziz also recognized the long history of the rail industry, noting that railroads played a crucial role in the expansion of Canada and the United States in the 1800s and 1900s.