Chiva-Som, has announced Sandie Johannessen as the new director of health and wellness at Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, the brand’s first international outpost alongside its flagship in Thailand.

With a grand opening scheduled for February, Chiva-Som claims Zulal will become the largest wellness destination in Qatar and the world's first centre for Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM).

Johannessen brings two decades of expertise in natural wellness to her new role, as well as experience in global wellness markets – including the US, UK, Scandinavia, Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand, India and Seychelles.

Before joining Zulal, she spent a seven-year tenure at Four Seasons which culminated in her final role as senior spa director of Asia Pacific. She's also previously held spa director roles at Aman and Shangri-La.

In her new leadership position, Copenhagen-born Johannessen will be responsible for guiding Zulal’s health and wellness philosophy and curating transformative wellness practices, while supervising the delivery of Chiva-Som's high standards of service.

She’ll oversee and cultivate the wellness and sustainability culture at the resort, delivering on Chiva-Som's pledge to place equal importance on people, planet and profit, ensuring that it resonates throughout guests’ experience.

Johannessen’s personal holistic approach sees her combine her studies in yoga, meditation, dietetics and philosophy.

“With Sandie’s appointment, we’ll be further well-positioned to continue the vision of Chiva-Som through Zulal,” commented Chiva-Som chair and CEO Krip Rojanastien.

“Her knowledge and skillset are augmented by a genuine passion for achieving sustainable holistic wellness goals in herself and in others.

“An inspiring leader, her values of a 'selfless service' will set the tone for us in our commitment to motivating guests towards an enlightened approach to their lifestyle. She’ll play a key role in championing our brand ethos.”

Zulal is being designed into a contemporary context and educating guests in TAIM healing modalities of the region with two distinct areas to achieve wellness goals, Zulal Discovery and Zulal Serenity.

Zulal Discovery will cater to guests seeking to make wellness a part of the family experience, with facilities that have been designed by child and family specialists specifically to bring families together.

Meanwhile, Zulal Serenity has been created for individuals and couples who want to enjoy world-class wellness in an adults-only environment.

More about Sandie Johannessen

Johannessen believes wellness is a way of life that embraces elements from different cultures and this has resonated through the path she has chosen.

From a young age, her learning was infused with how health extends from the individual to their environment. Johannessen also had an early connection to Thailand as a child where she embraced her spirituality by visiting Buddhist temples and meditating with monks.

Her journey with yoga and Ayurveda started in her 20s when an uncle introduced her to the ancient sciences via a traditional remedy for motion sickness and set her on an exploration of holistic wellness, studying the alternative knowledge systems in India over many years.

Continuing her journey and harmonising the ancient sciences’ perspective to her role, Johannessen finds great privilege and joy in helping others to re-balance, heal and thrive.