Azeez Syed

Azeez Syed is President and Regional Head of our cotton business and responsible for the trading and supply chain businesses in both North and South America. He has been involved in the cotton industry for over 21 years, and has a profound understanding of the industry, bringing experience from international bodies and associations.

He joined Olam in 1998, beginning his career in CIS, where he helped build the company’s leadership position in Central Asia and Mediterranean regions. He moved to Singapore in 2007 and has held various roles, setting up trading and marketing operations in China, and managing Olam’s US, Brazil and India Cotton operations.

Azeez has been an active member of the ICA (International Cotton Association) and was elected to the Board of Directors in October 2014. He is also a Director on the Board of American Cotton Shippers Association, having previously held the position of President between 2019 and 2021.

Prior to joining Olam, Azeez worked for five years with the Gillette group of companies in various sales and marketing roles, and with Grindwell Norton Ltd. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a Master’s in International Business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.