Banyan Tree Phuket is to announce the appointment of Chef Ian John Thomason as its new executive chef. The winner of TV show ‘Iron Chef Thailand’ will bring innovation and culinary expertise to the resort’s dining outlets.

Chef Ian 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 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 Ian 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 & passion of western and Asian Cuisine to bring dining excellence to the Resorts restaurants.”

As executive chef, Ian will oversee the operations of the kitchens of the resort’s featured restaurants – most notably, signature Thai restaurant, Saffron. At his helm also, is the al fresco restaurant Tamarind, which offers authentic Japanese cuisine. In addition, Chef Ian will be adding his personal touch to Tre’s contemporary fine dining cuisine where western dishes meet Asian influence.

Chef Ian graduated from Stafford, England in the UK before embarking his career at the famous Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland before 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 the legendary chef Albert Roux.