Okada Manila president steps down
Nobuki Sato will assume the roles of president and COO in September.
The Philippines.- Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment (TRLEI), the operator of Okada Manila, has announced a change in leadership for the casino. President and chief operating officer Byron Yip is stepping down from his role after seven years. Nobuki Sato, currently senior executive officer and chief financial officer of Universal Entertainment Corporation (UEC), will take his place from September 15.
In a statement, Okada Manila said Sato, who has sat on the TRLEI Board of Directors since March 2023, brings over 20 years of extensive leadership experience in hospitality, finance, and strategic operations.
Tomohiro Okada, representative director and president of Universal Entertainment Corporation, said: “Byron Yip’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing Okada Manila as a leading destination in the region, exemplified by our achievement of the Forbes 5-Star rating—the largest Forbes 5-star Integrated Resort in the Philippines to receive this distinction for the sixth consecutive year—and the successful execution of key expansion initiatives.”
He added: “We extend our heartfelt appreciation for Byron’s contributions and are pleased that he will continue to support the organization to ensure a seamless transition. We are confident that Nobuki Sato’s proven expertise in operational and financial management will guide Okada Manila into its next phase of strategic growth and innovation.”
Okada Manila’s financial results for Q2 show that gross gaming revenue (GGR) was down 19.6 per cent in year-on-year terms to PHP7.10bn (US$125.3m). VIP revenue was PHP2.29bn (US$40.42m), a decrease of 21.1 per cent, and gaming machine revenue was down by 6.3 per cent to PHP2.78bn (US$49.1m).
