Aziz Hadeed

Sir Aziz Fares Hadeed KCMG CBE (died 23 May 2026) was an Antiguan business executive, politician, diplomat and philanthropist. He served as the Executive Chairman of the Hadeed Group of Companies, one of the largest corporate conglomerates in the Eastern Caribbean. Beyond his commercial ventures, Hadeed had a distinguished career in public service, serving as an Independent Senator, a Cabinet Minister under the United Progressive Party administration, and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

In his later years, Hadeed became a central figure in regional higher education, serving as the inaugural Chairman of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus Council from its inception in 2019 until his death. Recognized for his monumental contributions to national infrastructure, education, and community welfare, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2016 and was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) in 2025.

Early life and education Aziz Fares Hadeed was born to Fares and Ramza Hadeed in Amar al-Hosn, Syria. His father immigrated to the Caribbean in 1952, eventually establishing roots for the family. Hadeed arrived in Antigua in the early 1960s as a teenager and enrolled at St. Joseph's Academy in St. John's. Despite facing early language barriers, he demonstrated an exceptional aptitude for mathematics.

Upon completing his secondary education, Hadeed joined the family business in 1965. While working, he concurrently pursued specialized training and correspondence courses in accounting and corporate business administration to develop his commercial acumen.

Business career

Hadeed Group of Companies Hadeed is widely regarded as one of the chief architects of the Hadeed Group of Companies. Alongside his older brother, the late Sir Ramez Hadeed, he transformed the family enterprise, F.E. Hadeed and Sons, into a multi-million-dollar multi-sector conglomerate. In 1980, Hadeed ascended to the position of Executive Chairman of the Hadeed Group. Under his corporate stewardship, the company expanded operations internationally across the Americas and the Caribbean, establishing business interests in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, and the United States.

He led the market expansion of Hadeed Motors Ltd., growing it into the premier motor vehicle dealership in Antigua and Barbuda, securing authorized dealerships for brands including Nissan, Suzuki, BMW, and MG Motors. He was also instrumental in the acquisition of Antigua Masonry Products (AMP), turning it into a primary operational asset during the country's construction developments.

Energy and aviation In 1996, Hadeed negotiated a landmark power-purchasing agreement with the government through the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), creating the Antigua Power Company Ltd. (APCL). From an initial output of 15 megawatts in 1997, APCL expanded under his leadership to generate roughly 70 megawatts of power, supplying approximately 90 percent of the electrical energy utilized in Antigua and Barbuda. In his final years, Hadeed steered the company toward green transition initiatives, forming a joint-venture hybrid diesel-LNG facility at Crabbes with U.S.-based Eagle LNG to reduce the country's carbon footprint.

Hadeed also contributed significantly to regional aviation logistics, serving as the Chairman of the Board of directors for the regional carrier LIAT (1974) Limited from 1995 to 1998.

Political and public career Hadeed maintained a lengthy career in public policy and national development. In 1994, Prime Minister Lester Bird appointed him as an Independent Senator to the Senate of Antigua and Barbuda, where he served for two consecutive terms. Following his death, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda ordered that he be accorded an official funeral in recognition of his lifetime of national service, corporate leadership and patriotism.

Honours and awards 1995: Named "Master of the Year for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean" by the Ernst & Young Awards Scheme. 2016: Appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for services to business and community development. 2025: Appointed an Ordinary Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) by King Charles III. He was invested by Prince William at Windsor Castle for his services to philanthropy, education, and economic development.