Fontainebleau Las Vegas expands leadership team with two key executive appointments

Fontainebleau Las Vegas has announced the addition of two high-ranking executives to its leadership team as the megaresort looks to cement its presence in the competitive Las Vegas market. David Willis has been appointed as Chief Strategy Officer, while Kevin Sweet will serve as Senior Vice President of Slot Marketing and Operations, the company confirmed Monday.

“As Fontainebleau Las Vegas enters its second full year of operations, the luxury resort and casino is strengthening its leadership team with strategic hires that signal a bold approach to the future,” the property said in a statement.

Willis most recently held the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Australian gaming and hospitality group Crown Resorts. Meanwhile, Sweet previously served as Chief Gaming Officer at Rio Las Vegas. Both executives bring experience from their time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where they worked between 2015 and 2022, according to their LinkedIn profiles.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas President Maurice Wooden, who was appointed to lead the resort less than two months after its launch, welcomed the new additions to the management team. “David’s strategic vision and global experience, combined with Kevin’s deep understanding of the gaming and luxury hospitality sectors, will assist our growth and keep Fontainebleau Las Vegas at the forefront of the industry,” he said.

David Willis, new Chief Strategy Officer

He added that both executives bring valuable leadership experience and a collaborative approach, which will support the resort’s ongoing innovation and positive trajectory.

Since its grand opening, Fontainebleau Las Vegas has undergone several leadership changes as it works to establish itself in the Las Vegas casino and hospitality market. The $3.7 billion resort has faced challenges, including an underdeveloped customer database and a location at the north end of the Strip, which has historically seen lower pedestrian traffic compared to central resort areas.

Despite these hurdles, Wooden recently expressed confidence in the property’s future. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he stated that Fontainebleau was moving beyond its initial growing pains and establishing itself as a premier destination.

“I think we’ve now established ourselves as a destination with not just great hotel or food and beverage or beautiful property, but it really is about the people that work here and in the service that they provide,” he said.

The resort was recently accepted into Virtuoso, an elite network of luxury travel agencies and high-end hospitality services, a move that aligns with its efforts to attract upscale clientele. Additionally, Fontainebleau’s ownership group made a notable real estate acquisition last year, purchasing five acres of adjacent vacant land for $112.5 million, describing it as a strategic investment.