CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Marina Bay Sands
POWER SCORE: 825
POSITION LAST YEAR: 42
CLAIMS TO FAME
- Global gaming experience includes stints in Macau, Australia and New Zealand
IT’S BEEN QUITE THE RIDE for Paul Town in his three years with Marina Bay Sands. Arriving in October 2019 as Senior Vice President Resort Operations, the New Zealander now finds himself the Chief Operating Officer of an integrated resort widely considered to be Asia’s “gold standard” and very much Las Vegas Sands’ man on the ground in Singapore, following the 2021 departure of Chief Casino Officer Andrew MacDonald and the more recent loss of Managing Director George Tanasijevich.
Town’s experience is primarily in the hotels and hospitality space, but he is quick to stress that he is no stranger to gaming operations either thanks to lessons learned during stints at Galaxy Macau, Melco-Crown and Crown Melbourne where he served in a range of senior leadership roles on the hotel side. He also worked with a number of food and beverage supply companies in Australia shortly before his move to MBS in 2019.
Despite facing plenty of pandemic-induced challenges during his first three years with the company, Town is already benefiting from Singapore’s efforts to reopen to the world, with MBS roaring back to life in the June 2022 quarter on revenues totaling US$679 million and Adjusted EBITDA of US$319 million.
A US$3.3 billion expansion project that will see a fourth hotel tower added is expected to get underway within months, while a separate US$1 billion upgrade of existing facilities is already well advanced and will ensure MBS remains hugely competitive in the Asian gaming space for many years to come.
For the full list of 2022 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.