Major shakeup at Newport World Resorts: CEO, COO and CFO all depart on the same day

IAG has learned of major changes to the leadership of Newport World Resorts (formerly Resorts World Manila) over the weekend.

Long-time CEO Kingson Sian has retired effective Saturday 1 June, with COO Hakan Dagtas and CFO Bernard Than resigning on the same day. Dagtas and Than, who had both been with Newport well over a decade, were previously executives with Star Cruises, owned by Newport’s former partner, Genting Hong Kong.

Kingson Sian has retired as CEO of Newport World Resorts operator Travellers International Hotel Group Inc

Newport is owned and operated by Travellers International Hotel Group, a subsidiary of Philippines conglomerate Alliance Global Group, Inc (AGI), which bought out Genting Hong Kong’s interest in Travellers in May last year following the collapse of Genting Hong Kong and its associated cruise lines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Genting Hong Kong’s woes had led to the property dropping the Genting integrated resort brand “Resorts World” from its name in July 2022, rebranding from Resorts World Manila to Newport World Resorts.

Replacing Sian as CEO is former Chief Strategy Officer Nilo Rodriguez, who joined the company in August 2022 following a career in finance and aviation, including two-and-a-half years as SVP Finance and then CFO of Philippines Airlines.

Nilo Rodriquez has replaced Kingson Sian as CEO

Newport’s new COO is former Chief Casino Officer Lance Gautreaux, who joined the company in September last year following 17 years with Las Vegas Sands: two in Macau, six in Singapore and nine in Las Vegas. IAG interviewed Gautreaux in January this year.

Both Rodriguez and Gautreaux were promoted into their new roles on Saturday, concurrent with the departures of Sian, Dagtas and Than.

While the news comes as an abrupt surprise to many, according to Newport Mr Sian’s retirement had been planned for several years but was delayed during the pandemic and the transitional 12-month period after the purchase of Genting Hong Kong’s interest in Travellers by AGI.

The Chairman of AGI is Dr Andrew Tan, one of the Philippines wealthiest people. Tan’s son, Kevin Tan, is CEO of AGI and is responsible for the overall management of Newport.