Welcome to Las Vegas Mr. Leven

If Conan O’Brien needs writers when he moves to the “The Tonight Show,” the Review-Journal’s business staff stands ready.

The one-liners were flying Monday when it was announced that Michael Levin would be taking over as president of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Leven, 71, who replaces Bill Weidner on April 1, is longtime hotel and hospitality executive. But for the past year, Leven has served as the CEO of the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, a position he resigned Monday.

From assistant business editor Dan Behringer:

Shows how things are tanking. It’s a tough new job; it’ll be sink or swim. Hope he doesn’t feel like a fish out of water in his new role.

From tourism writer Benjamin Spillman:

The people at Las Vegas Sands found someone with experience managing underwater assets to lead their troubled corporation. Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson needs someone to bring in more whales.

From copy editor Matthew Crowley:

He’s casting his net wide. He knows all the anglers. This is no fish story. This will be a really tankless job. He’s a grouper trooper.

Finally, from columnist John L. Smith:

If he fails, he’ll be sleeping with the fishes.