JA Resorts & Hotels has appointed its second female general manager.

Karen Merrick’s appointment as general manager of JA Manafaru Maldives was announced on Friday.

The Scottish national joins the 350-associates at the multi award-winning private island resort to maintain the island’s longstanding popularity with international guests and to communicate the unique soul of the island with her innate understanding of Maldivian culture and heritage.

According to TTG Asia, Merrick has been working in the industry for over 30 years. She has worked across a variety of boutique hotels in the Indian Ocean and Europe.

She spent the last three years running the Song Saa Private Island in Cambodia.

Her new post at JA Manafaru Maldives is her fifth leadership role in the archipelago nation, having previously served at iconic locations including Soneva Fushi, LUX* South Ari Atoll, The Rania Experience, and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives.

She is married to a Maldivian.

JA Manafaru Maldives was opened in November 2014, about a year after the Dubai-based international hospitality company JA Resorts & Hotels took ownership.

The property boasts 84 keys consisting of beach villas and water villas all with private pools, seven diverse food and beverage outlets, a spa and beauty complex, water sports and PADI dive centre, and extensive children’s entertainment area.

Located in the Northern Haa Alifu Atoll of the Maldives, JA Manafaru is 75 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport.