He was an industrialist who built the agricultural equipment firm that became Massey Ferguson, now part of AGCO.

Newcastle Foundry and Machine Manufactory had been founded by his father, Daniel Massey.

Another merger was made with Patterson-Wisner Company leaving Massey-Harris with 4% of the Canadian agricultural equipment market.

Charitable gifts in his will led to the creation of the Massey Foundation, whose first major project was the completion of a student centre for the University of Toronto, which was given the name of Hart House.

His estate funded the Burwash Hall men's residence at Victoria University.