Banyan Tree Phuket has appointed Ian John Thomason as its new executive chef.

Thomason graduated from Stafford, England, before embarking his career at the famous Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland.

He went on to cook in some of London’s most renowned kitchens including The Savoy, where he served as senior sous chef, and at the Sofitel London St. James, where he worked as executive sous chef under chef Albert Roux.

Thomason is no stranger to Laguna Phuket as he plied his trade at the erstwhile Sheraton Grand Laguna Luxury Collection Phuket managing as executive sous chef.

He started his journey in the capital, Bangkok at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel as an executive sous chef back in 2008.

His penultimate stop before the Banyan Tree was as executive chef at Luxury Collection, Naka Island, Phuket, for over five years.

On his move to Banyan Tree Phuket Thomason said: “It is an absolute honour for me to be the executive chef here in one of Phuket’s most iconic hotels and I’m eager to utilise my experience and passion of western and Asian cuisine to bring dining excellence to the Resorts restaurants.”

In the role, Thomason will oversee the operations of the kitchens of the resort’s featured restaurants – most notably, signature Thai restaurant, Saffron.