Goldstein appointed president of Las Vegas Sands, replacing retiring Leven

Las Vegas Sands Corp. selected longtime company executive Rob Goldstein as president and chief operating officer on Thursday, replacing the retiring Mike Leven.

Goldstein, 59, has been with Las Vegas Sands since 1995 and has served in numerous executive positions for the company, including president of The Venetian and Palazzo, the company’s two Strip resorts. Most recently, Goldstein has been president of global gaming operations.

Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson also serves as CEO.

“For nearly 20 years I’ve had the privilege of working with one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs,” Goldstein said in a statement. “The tremendous success of this company is a testament to Sheldon Adelson’s vision and determination and the dedication of our nearly 50,000 team members worldwide.”

Leven, 77, is retiring at the end of the year after having served as president and chief operating officer since 2009.

Goldstein has been responsible for developing Las Vegas Sands’ gaming business in Macau and Singapore, where the company collects roughly 80 percent of annual revenue, which was a gaming industry high $13.77 billion in 2013.

“We’ve set a high standard with our success, and I’m focused on continuing to execute Sheldon’s vision and the strategic objectives laid out by our board of directors and management team,” Goldstein said.

He said the company will pursue new development opportunities worldwide. In Macau, where Las Vegas Sands operates three hotel-casinos and a multi-resort development, the company is building a $2.7 billion Paris-themed resort that is expected to open in 2016.

Adelson said in a statement Goldstein’s experience with the company makes him well-suited to take over from Leven.

“With Rob’s strong leadership, passion and energy, I’m fully confident we will expand our industry leadership to deliver even greater achievements in the years ahead,” Adelson said.

Prior to joining Las Vegas Sands, Goldstein spent 15 years developing casino-hotels in both the United States and the Caribbean. Goldstein is credited with developing the company’s global retail strategy and adding the dining, nightlife and entertainment concepts to the company’s properties.

“I’ve been part of this industry for my entire professional career, and I’m humbled and thankful for the opportunity,” Goldstein said.

Leven was a retired hotel company executive and an independent board member since 2004 when Adelson asked him to become president in 2009 after firing longtime company president Bill Weidner during a management dispute.

Leven agreed to a contract extension in 2012. During his tenure, Las Vegas Sands expanded its presence in Macau and opened the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. He will remain a member of the Las Vegas Sands board.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Find on Twitter: @howardstutz.