Case leads Sands Macao's Hammond on strategic journey

It’s a long journey from Pretoria, South Africa to the Sand Macao Hotel in Macau – a journey made not just in miles, but also in experiences.

Trevor Hammond, Vice-President of Table Games, for Sands China Limited, has made that journey, and has now added Ivey’s Executive MBA to those experiences. In his role, Hammond is responsible for a staff of more than 10,000 employees and over 1,500 gaming tables.

Hammond and senior managers were part of discussions on strategic leadership with Ivey Professor Mary Crossan – who was in Asia teaching various groups, including the Sands staff. The case involved gold and resort giant Mission Hills and the strategic dilemmas the organization faced.

“The key learnings in the case were very relevant to our organization. The insights helped us think through the ways in which we can be more effective as an organization and provide a better experience for our guests,” Hammond said.

Hammond was born in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, and moved through various jobs in the casino industry, including a 10-year career working with Sun International. Feeling the need to travel, Hammond took advantage of a casino opportunity in the Cambodian border town of Poipet. Four years later he joined Las Vegas Sands, who opened their first property – the Sands Macao – a casino resort located in Macau Peninsula, Macau, China, in 2004.

“I don’t have much time for hobbies, however I enjoy watching sport, playing golf and betting on the horses!” he said. He also enjoys spending time with his sons.

Now, with the insights provided by Crossan’s discussion on strategic leadership, his challenging role will be just a little bit easier, giving him more time for the things he loves.