Aside from the 50 people that made our final list and the many others we considered, a handful stood out as particularly worthy of mention. These are the people whose star is on the rise, are in a company worth keeping an eye on or in some cases, like Kazuo Okada and Steve Wynn, we’re quite sure we haven’t heard the last of.
GEOFF ANDRES
PROPERTY PRESIDENT
Studio City
THE veteran gaming industry executive was shifted to Studio City almost two years ago after a successful stint as City of Dreams Manila Property President and COO. His next big task will be to oversee the development of Studio City Phase 2.
PAUL BAKER
PRESIDENT
Grand Lisboa Palace
APPOINTED President of SJM’s under-construction Cotai integrated resort, Grand Lisboa Palace, in September 2018, Paul Baker was previously Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Genting Malaysia Berhad, EVP – Resort Operations at Wynn Macau and Vice President and Assistant General Manager across multiple Las Vegas properties for Caesars Entertainment.
TED CHAN
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER – JAPAN DEVELOPMENT
Galaxy Entertainment Group
A former highly rated Melco Resorts executive, Ted Chan now leads Galaxy Entertainment Group’s efforts to win a Japan IR license. He currently leads a team of more than 20 in Galaxy’s Japan IR team.
GRANT CHUM
CHIEF OF STAFF
Sands China
HIGHLY rated by Sands China, Chum joined the company in 2013 as SVP of Global Gaming Strategy, having previously spent 11 years as an analyst for UBS including three years as Head of China Equity Research. Now acting as second in charge to Dr Wilfred Wong in Macau.
PATRICK DUMONT
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CFO
Las Vegas Sands
THE son-in-law of LVS Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson, Patrick Dumont oversees the company’s key financials including maintaining the sort of healthy balance sheet needed for its current multi-billion dollar expansion plans in Macau, Singapore and Japan.
ARNALDO HO
ASSISTANT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Sociedade de Jogos de Macau SA
THE son of Stanley Ho and Angela Leong is Assistant COO for SJM and a director of Macau Theme Park Resort Ltd which is building a new US$1.5 billion IR on vacant land owned by Leong next to Grand Lisboa Place in Cotai.
MICHAEL JOHANSEN
PRESIDENT, RESORTS WORLD AT SEA
Genting Hong Kong
A veteran of the industry and particularly Genting, where he has filled multiple roles over the years directing premium sales and marketing initiatives as well as being appointed Executive Vice President Casino Operations in 2014.
MARIO KONTOMERKOS
CEO
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
MOHEGAN’S CEO has been actively driving the company’s global expansion efforts since taking over as CEO in September 2017, growing the international INSPIRE brand of IRs via development in Incheon, Korea, and IR bids in both Japan and Greece.
LI CHI KEUNG
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Macau Jockey Club
A heavy hitter in Macau’s racing and sports betting scene, Li Chi Keung oversees the Macau Jockey Club and Macau Slot. He is also Chairman of junket operator Golden Group and is said to be one of the largest local mezzanine financiers of satellite casinos.
ANDREW LO
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Suncity Group
THE man in charge of driving Asian junket giant Suncity Group’s expansion plans throughout the region, Andrew Lo has been heavily involved in the development of Vietnam IR Hoiana and the company’s investment in Summit Ascent, owner of Tigre de Cristal in Vladivostok.
ANDREW MACDONALD
CORPORATE SVP AND CHIEF CASINO OFFICER
Las Vegas Sands
A former investment banker in Australia, Andrew MacDonald has risen through the ranks of the world’s casino operators, from Jupiter’s and Crown in his home country to Genting Berhad and now LVS on the international stage. He plays a key role in the strategic direction of LVS’ global casino operations.
KAZUO OKADA
FORMER CHAIRMAN
Universal Entertainment
IT’S been a rough few years for Kazuo Okada – kicked out of Wynn Resorts, Universal Entertainment Corp and Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment Inc, operator of the Okada Manila IR that still bears his name. He hasn’t had much luck via legal channels to win his place back but something tells us we haven’t heard the last of him yet.
JAMES PACKER
MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER
Crown Resorts
JAMES PACKER has been rapidly divesting his casino interests in recent times, most notably by agreeing to sell 19.99% of his Crown Resorts stake to Lawrence Ho’s Melco Resorts & Entertainment. Yet he remains, for now, Crown’s largest shareholder and an influential figure on Australian soil.
BEN REICHEL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GROUP GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
Donaco International
HAS been a beacon of stability for a company in turmoil in recent times, fighting a campaign of lawsuits by Donaco’s former vendors in Cambodia while the board itself was undergoing mass change. He was previously General Counsel of TAB Limited and of racing broadcaster Sky Channel Pty Limited.
JAMES SPENCELEY
SHAREHOLDER
Donaco International
AN Australian business mogul with a hugely successful track record in the telecommunications industry, Spenceley became Silver Heritage Chairman in May 2018 before recently stepping down. A two-time winner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award, he is also a shareholder in fellow Australian-listed Southeast Asian casino operator Donaco International.
ED TRACY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Hard Rock Japan
THE former Sands China President and CEO is now Hard Rock International’s CEO of Asia, tasked with expanding the company’s regional portfolio including the No 1 target of Japan. Hard Rock is targeting a regional IR in Hokkaido.
STELIOS TSIFETAKIS
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Summit Ascent Holdings
HAS overseen the impressive ramp of Summit Ascent’s Russian IR, Tigre de Cristal, which saw profits climb almost 20-fold in 1H19. With Phase 2 development underway and Suncity now a major shareholder, there also appears to be much more upside potential in Vladivostok.
STEVE WYNN
FOUNDER
Wynn Resorts
HAVING stepped down as Chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts in February 2018 and sold off his 12.1% stake after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced, Steve Wynn is now facing a complaint from the Nevada Gaming Control Board that could see him banned from the industry forever. Expect him to dominate industry headlines for some time to come.
BYRON YIP
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Okada Manila
THE Former Deutsche Bank and Union Gaming banker joined Okada Manila in June 2018, as well as joining the board of the IR’s operator, Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment Inc. GGR at Okada Manila has been ramping impressively for the past 12 months and the impending opening of more hotel rooms won’t hurt either.
ALLAN ZEMAN
CHAIRMAN
Wynn Macau
A legend in the Hong Kong business community, having built the famous Lan Kwai Fong entertainment district from the ground up, Zeman has also stepped into the void left by Steve Wynn’s departure in Macau.
For the full list of 2019 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.
