AEA Investors CEO and leadership

Riz joined AEA in 2019 as Operating Partner and Chief Talent Officer. He is primarily focused on working with portfolio companies to assess, acquire, organize, retain and develop talent. He also facilitates sharing of human resources best practices across the AEA portfolio. Riz currently serves on the boards of BMS Enterprises and Jack’s Family Restaurants.

Prior to joining AEA, Riz served as chief human resources officer for BNSF Railway, where he was responsible for human resources, leadership and organizational development; medical and environmental health; and diversity & inclusion. Prior to BNSF, Riz served as executive vice president, human resources and administration, at Energy Future Holdings Corp. (formerly TXU Corp.). Before TXU, he served as vice president, human resources and corporate relations, for Kennametal, Inc., a global industrial manufacturing corporation in Pennsylvania. Riz has also served in executive-level human resources positions at Aetna Inc. in Hartford, Connecticut, and at Mary Kay Inc. in Dallas, Texas. Earlier in his career, Riz was with PepsiCo Foods International and with the Hay Group. Riz began his career as an engineer working for Schlumberger in offshore oil drilling.

Riz is a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of the Health Transformation Alliance, an organization representing 50 major employers with approximately seven million members, focused on improving the cost and quality of health care.