Thailand-based destination health and wellness resort Chiva-Som has named Vaipanya Kongkwanyuen as the new general manager.

Kongkwanyuen replaces Sheila McCann, who has taken a position with medical wellness resort Lanserhof to head up their expanding UK operations.

Kongkwanyuen has a 30-year career in five-star hospitality, and was most recently working for Aman Group in China, where he has been based in Beijing, Lijiang and Hangzhou as general manager. He is the first Thai general manager at Chiva-Som, and is having a homecoming of sorts, having been the director of food and beverage for the resort in 1994 during the resort’s pre-opening phase.

Since he began his career in 1984, Kongkwanyuen has had experience in food and beverage, pre-opening management, sales and marketing, and strategic planning skills, which were honed during his experience in the pre-opening team for the Aman Group in both Lijiang and Beijing, as well as with Four Seasons Thailand.

“Mr. Kongkwanyuen has an exemplary background in the hospitality industry and I look forward to him continuing his success with us," said Krip Rojanastien, chair and CEO of Chiva-Som. "His Thai heart will be core to driving Chiva-Som’s unique wellness service forward to remain at the top of the industry.”