INSIDER INFO: Newport Resorts World shakeup as Kingson Sian ‘retired’; new CEO, COO chosen

The slow burn shakeup at Newport Resorts World — the premiere gaming and leisure development of Alliance Global Group — has reached its climax with the appointment of a new CEO and COO that effectively ends a transition period that lasted two years.

On Monday morning, insider sources revealed that longtime Newport Resorts World president and CEO Kingson Sian has “officially retired” from the group, along with two key officials who were part of the joint venture with the Genting Group of Malaysia.

Named president of Newport Resorts World was Nilo Rodriguez (formerly the chief operating officer of Philippine Airlines) and Lance Gautreaux, an American, who will serve as COO and also the gaming head of the development.

Also replaced in the shakeup were Hakan Dagtas (COO) and Bernard Than (chief financial officer), both appointees of the former Malaysian joint venture partners. Newport Resorts World has yet to name a new CFO to replace Than, according to insiders.

Genting’s financial woes prompted the father-and-son tandem of Andrew and Kevin Tan to decide to buy out the Malaysians’ stake in 2022 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and resulted in the younger Tan taking a bigger role in the growing property and leisure conglomerate.