Okada Manila Announces Leadership Transition as Byron Yip Steps Down, Nobuki Sato Named New President and COO

Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI), the operator behind the world-renowned Okada Manila integrated resort, has announced a major leadership transition set to take effect in September 2025.

Byron Yip, who has served as TRLEI’s President and Chief Operating Officer for seven years, will be stepping down from his role. However, he will continue to oversee daily operations and support the leadership transition until the end of September 2025, the company confirmed in an official statement.

Taking over as President and COO on September 15, 2025, is Nobuki Sato, currently Senior Executive Officer and CFO of Universal Entertainment Corp. (UEC), TRLEI’s parent company. Sato, who joined the TRLEI Board of Directors in March 2023, brings over 20 years of leadership experience across the hospitality, finance, and strategic operations sectors.

“Byron Yip’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing Okada Manila as a premier destination in Asia,” said Tomohiro Okada, Representative Director and President of Universal Entertainment Corp.

He credited Yip with spearheading key expansion initiatives and maintaining the resort’s six-year streak as a Forbes 5-Star recipient, making it the largest Forbes 5-Star Integrated Resort in the Philippines.

The leadership change underscores TRLEI’s commitment to operational excellence and long-term value creation. Okada expressed full confidence in Sato’s ability to guide Okada Manila through its next phase of strategic growth and innovation.

About Okada Manila

Spanning 30 hectares in Parañaque City, Okada Manila is one of Asia’s most iconic integrated casino resorts. Known for The Fountain, a world-class water and light show, and the largest gaming floor in the Philippines, the resort offers a wide array of table games and electronic gaming machines.

Okada Manila also features 1,001 luxury hotel rooms, digital platforms like the Okada Manila App, and Okada Online Casino, catering to a modern and tech-savvy guest base.