SHIFTING SANDS: With Weidner out, will Stone be next?

William Weidner’s departure from Las Vegas Sands Inc. has fueled speculation that his colleague and friend Executive Vice President Bradley H. Stone might also be on his way out.

Like Weidner, Stone has a reputation as a dynamic thinker who has played an important and essential role in the creation of the Sands brand and its expansion on the Strip and in Asia.

According to Forbes.com, Stone’s executive compensation package in 2007 was $3.66 million with a $1 million base salary.

Weidner’s resignation surfaced publicly Monday, ending a 13-year relationship with the company that saw it emerge as a major player in the gaming industry under his guidance. It was little secret that Weidner’s personal relationship with Chairman and majority stockholder Sheldon Adelson had chilled over the past year. The association was so tempestuous that it was referenced in a 2008 SEC filing.

Weidner was replaced by Michael Leven, 70, a member of the company’s board of directors since August 2004.