The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street: July 30

Sands China Shifts Again

Check it out, everybody, the vacancy sign is once again flashing at Sands China. Not for a deluxe suite, of course, but in the corner office.

Sands China, the Macau unit of Las Vegas Sands(LVS), said on July 23 that Chief Executive Steve Jacobs has left the organization and that the board of directors is currently on the lookout for a permanent replacement.

The company did not offer a reason for Jacobs' departure, although his reportedly rocky relationship with CEO Sheldon Adelson was rumored to have played a major part in his leaving. Michael Leven, Las Vegas Sands' chief operating officer, will take over Jacobs' duties for the time being.

We say Leven would be better off playing drums for Spinal Tap than staying on too long as Adelson's point man in Macau. He may risk spontaneous combustion, but at least he would have greater career longevity.

Earlier this year, Sands China executive director Stephen Weaver left for personal reasons. And a pair of executives of another Las Vegas Sands unit in Asia, Singapore's Marina Bay Sands, left the company last August.

That's more than enough movement for us to know that the Sands will continue to shift in China, at least until Adelson stops blowing hot and cold.

Dumb-o-meter score: 75 -- Not since Jack Nicholson took over the Overlook Hotel in The Shining have so many hotel employees faced the ax.