7-Eleven CEO Attends Opening of 'Undercover Boss' Franchisee

Kazakhstan native Igor Finkler is living the American Dream as the owner of his own 7-Eleven.

May 18, 2010

RICHARDSON, Texas - 7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto paid a visit last week to Igor Finkler, an immigrant from Kazakhstan who was awarded his own franchise after being featured on the CBS reality show Undercover Boss, the Dallas Morning News reports.

DePinto met Finkler during the course of an episode of Undercover Boss while posing as a 7-Eleven trainee. At the time, Finkler drove a delivery truck for the company.

DePinto became enamored with Finkler??s work ethic and attitude, and at the show??s end, revealed his identity and awarded the man his own franchise, waiving the $140,000 franchisee fee. The store opened last week, during which DePinto surprised Finkler with a visit.

Recognizing DePinto, Finkler immediately gave him a warm hug.

"The store looks great. It's beautiful," DePinto said, surveying the shiny store in an upscale shopping center.

"When I met Igor, I knew immediately he would be perfect for this opportunity," DePinto said, adding that Finkler??s smile and energy are trademarks that 7-Eleven looks for in its franchisees.

Throughout the day, Finkler was in constant motion throughout the store, waiting on customers while personally attending to small spills, making sure everything was in order. "This is my baby," Finkler said.

DePinto, a West Point graduate, noted that he and Finkler share a similar past. "He was in the Soviet army when I was in the U.S. Army," the CEO said. "Now, we are friends."

Read more about how upper management gets back to basics in the May NACS Magazine feature, "Brave New World."

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