Johannessen (left) will oversee a total of nine spas in the Middle East and Africa, while Lasvigne-Fox (right) is moving to the new Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, which is scheduled to open in 2018

Sandie Johannessen has been named senior spa director at the hilltop Spa at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles.

Johannessen joins as the current senior spa director, Verena Lasvigne-Fox, prepares to transfer to the new Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, due to open in 2018.

Johannessen was previously senior spa director at Four Seasons Maldives Landaa Giraavaru, with regional responsibility in Asia Pacific. She has spent the past three-and-a-half years at the helm of the Spa and Ayurvedic Retreat, overseeing spa operations on the 11-cabin Four Seasons Explorer, as well as the newly launched Ocean of Consciousness Spa at Four Seasons Private Island Voavah.

With the move to the Seychelles, and into the Middle East and Africa region, Johannessen will oversee a total of nine spas, including the launch of the organic spa at the upcoming Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, which is set to open on 1 March 2018.

Adrian Messerli, general manager of Four Seasons Resort Seychelles and area spa general manager for the Middle East and Africa, said: "Verena and Sandie are exceptional spa leaders. Their vision, knowledge and depth of understanding allows us to continually seek opportunities to refine and enhance the spa experience for our guests. I am particularly proud that Seychelles is the home of the senior spa director position and look forward to working closely with Sandie on the region's exciting upcoming developments."

Lasvigne-Fox joined Four Seasons in Paris in 2003 and her move to Philadelphia marks her fourth hotel with the company. She was first appointed senior spa director for Europe in 2010, while at Four Seasons Hotel George V, which was a role she retained during her relocation to Four Seasons Resort Marrakech in 2013. Her regional responsibilities changed to Middle East and Africa when she was appointed senior spa director at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles in 2015.

Johannessen was first drawn to India for studies in yogic science and to further her personal interest in ayurveda, but her career evolved into spa management and she worked across Maldives, Malaysia and India before joining Four Seasons in 2014.

With her move to Seychelles, Johannessen’s portfolio of spas will range from the island resorts of Seychelles and Mauritius to city hotels such as Dubai, Doha and Bahrain, as well as the spa and wellness programme at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti.

Johannessen will take up her new appointment from 1 December 2017.

Verena Lasvigne-Fox moves from Four Seasons George V to Marrakech