16 Kevin Kelley
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Galaxy Entertainment Group
CLAIMS TO FAME
• Helped launch the Venetian Macao in 2007
• Decades of experience in senior management, specializing in mass market
POWER SCORE 1,304 LAST YEAR 11
A key man in maintaining Galaxy Entertainment Group’s (GEG) remarkable resilience in the face of the challenges that have engulfed Macau’s gaming industry in recent years, Kevin Kelley has built a reputation as someone who gets the job done.
Having taken over as Chief Operating Officer in September 2015 after his predecessor, Michael Mecca, switched his focus to the company’s growing foreign portfolio, Kelley’s appointment was a nod to Galaxy’s evolution from a VIP-reliant business to mass market with the company stating at the time that, “Mr Kelley will oversee functions such as business development, international premium and mass market development, Galaxy Macau, StarWorld Hotel, Broadway Macau and City Clubs operations as well as advancing the development plans for Phases 3 and 4.”
As of 3Q17, he appears to be handling those tasks with aplomb – even if Broadway’s ramp has been hampered by the literal prevailing headwinds of Typhoon Hato, which saw casino operations ceased for a month through September.
Despite the setbacks, GEG continues to stand out from the Macau concessionaire crowd with revenue up 23% year-on-year for the quarter and EBITDA a phenomenal 31%.
Although Galaxy has proved strong across the board, it is the growing mass market where the company sees its future and in this there is no better man than Kelley to guide the way. His 40 years of industry experience include previous roles as Senior Vice President of Operations at Las Vegas Sands – where he helped open the Venetian Macao in 2007 – as well as various senior positions with Station Casinos in Nevada.
Kelley was handed a difficult assignment given the state of the Macau market at the time of his appointment, however it is clear that he has already repaid the faith shown in him by GEG Deputy Chairman Francis Lui.
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