7-Eleven’s incoming CEO credits his ‘tough customer’ mother and aunts as his inspiration

The first foreigner of 7-Eleven heads expressed their confidence on Friday, the Japanese stores chain will continue to attract Thrifty clients, even in the economic slowdown.

But Stephen Hayes Dakus, an American with a Japanese mother, refused to comment on the details of the various investment plans that are now studied, including the acquisition suggestion by Alimentation Couche-Tard in Canada.

He said that the company’s private committee, which is not part of it, is equipped with the study of options “completely objectively.”

Dakus, a manager who is currently, told a small group of correspondents at the headquarters of Seven & I Holdings Co. , Which works 7-Eleven: “This process is progressing very constructive.”

His appointment as CEO needs the approval of shareholders, specified for the month of May. Seven shares rose more than 2 % last year.

Dakus, fluently in Japanese and English, is fluent in building a leadership culture that he learned to be admired by his experience at Wall Mart, Universu University and other retailers.

He said: “If you are not modest, you do not listen to your customers. You don’t learn. But if you are not aggressive, you will overcome your competitors.”

Dakus emphasized that the 7-Eleven series was growing globally. But the stores were different according to the nation, and his intention was not to repeat “Conbini” in the Japanese style, as is known here.

For example, cost reduction costs can be delivered using a better supply chain, for example, take advantage of the global access to the series, while a cheaper recipe for a nutritional component will lead to customer dimensions.

“This work was built in Japan on innovation,” he said.

While refusing to comment on US president Donald Trump’s policies, he admitted that buyers are likely to tighten their violated chains.

Dakus said that the answer is to be the first choice for the shopping location, noting that his mother and his Japanese relatives who saw growing up were not lost. He remembers that they were wrapped in the remains of dinner in restaurants in paper to take it home.

“If you want to talk to some difficult customers, you are talking to my aunts,” he said.

“Japanese customers are incredibly demanding. This is something that really echoes with me. This is the way I think about the retail sale.”

This story was originally shown on Fortune.com

2025-04-26 10:16:00