Alliance Global Group (AGI), Newport Resorts' parent company, has clarified that the recent departure of its senior executives was part of a planned transition, and not due to any financial scandal as reported in some sources.
The statement was made in response to an article titled “Scandal at the casino: Were Newport Resorts executives Kingson Sian, Hakan Dagtas, Bernard Than kicked out due to embezzlement?” posted on Bilyonaryo.com.
On 30 May 2023, AGI assumed full ownership of Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. (TIHGI), a subsidiary of AGI.
AGI claims that then CEO Kingson Sian had postponed his retirement to oversee this transition, and the departures of then COO Hakan Dagtas and CFO Bernard Than were also part of the plan to introduce AGI’s new management team, which included Nilo Rodriguez, the former CFO of Philippine Airlines, as the new CEO and Lance Gautreaux, the former Chief Casino Officer, as COO.
AGI has also stressed that CEO Kevin Tan’s comments during the town hall were not direct accusations but a reinforcement of the company's commitment to integrity.
AGI hopes this clarification will reassure stakeholders of the integrity and planned nature of the leadership changes at Newport World Resorts, although speculation will no doubt continue.
