Windsor Law alumnus Lorne Abony (Dual JD 1994) will be featured on the Emmy Award-winning CBS series Undercover Boss on Friday, January 4, at 8 p.m. ET.
Abony is CEO and chair of Mood Media, a company valued at $1.3 billion. In the episode, the disguised executive of the global experience design company worked hand-in-hand with employees who provide the company’s frontline services.
The first Canadian-born executive profiled on the U.S. version of the hit television series, Abony is featured working on the frontline with employees and actively looks for ways to recognize employees’ dedication and create positive changes across the company.
“This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Undercover Boss enabled me to interact and connect with our dedicated employees in the field who work tirelessly to deliver exceptional service to our clients,” says Abony.
Each week, Undercover Boss follows a different executive on an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their companies. While working alongside their employees, they see the effects that their decisions have on others, where problems lie, and get an up-close look at the good, the bad and the unsung heroes who make their companies run.
The UWindsor grad’s phenomenally successful company provides music, digital signage, messaging, social/mobile applications, location-based services and scent marketing to retail stores, hotels, restaurants and businesses such as McDonald's, Gucci, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike, Hilton Hotel and AT&T. Serving more than 560,000 commercial locations in 55 countries, Mood’s products reach more than 150 million people every day. In 2011, PROFIT magazine named it Canada's fastest-growing company.
With his company’s international reach, Abony says his decision to pursue the combined US and Canada law degree program at UWindsor has paid off.
“My legal education in Windsor was fundamental in teaching me how to think about problems, how to challenge traditional ideas and how to subject thoughts to rigorous scrutiny.”
Abony has a gift for developing highly successful ventures. He co-founded online skills game site FUN Technologies in 2001 and attracted more than 25 million registered users. In 2004, he became the youngest CEO of a listed company on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and in 2006 the Globe and Mail named the dynamic entrepreneur to its Top 40 under 40 list. In 2005, Abony sold his 51 per cent controlling interest to Liberty Media for $196 million.
The Educational Development Centre invites staff and faculty to wear “Ask Me” buttons for the first half of January, making it easier for new students to identify people who can provide them with a welcoming smile, directions or basic campus information.