Sensei Announces Several New Appointments to Its Growing Leadership Team of Luxury Wellness & Hospitality Expert

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 21, 2024) — Sensei, a leading wellness brand, announces several new appointments to the brand and at Sensei Porcupine Creek, its luxury retreat in Rancho Mirage, California. Sensei welcomes Michelle Clapperton as Vice President of Wellness Operations to the corporate team, who brings years of valuable expertise from her past roles at other prestigious wellness retreats. At Porcupine Creek, the newly bolstered team includes a roundup of experts in their respective fields including Vince Smit, Director of Wellness; John Gustafson, Director of Sales and Events; Joshua Nudd, Executive Chef; and Jacob Heck, Director of Agronomy. Each of these four leaders brings extensive experience in their areas of wellness, agronomy, food and beverage, and sales to the brand, which was founded by tech pioneer Larry Ellison and world-leading physician and scientist Dr. David Agus.

Michelle Clapperton, Vice President of Wellness Operations 

With nearly 20 years of experience combining her passions of health and hospitality, Michelle Clapperton recently joined Sensei at the corporate level as the Vice President of Wellness Operations. She has worked for illustrious luxury hospitality and wellness companies such as Six Senses, Shangri-La and Four Seasons, where she was formerly the Executive Director of the California Health & Longevity Institute at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake. Clapperton holds a Bachelor of Science in nutritional science, is a Registered Dietitian and Registered Holistic Nutritionist, and holds certifications in plant-based nutrition and ayurveda. She also holds a masters degree in hotel management from Cornell University and is currently pursuing her credentials in functional medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Vince Smit, Director of Wellness

Vince Smit joins Sensei Porcupine Creek as Director of Wellness, where he will oversee wellbeing and spa programming for the property. He comes to Sensei from his previous role as Director of Spa for The Miami Beach EDITION. Possessing extensive experience in the wellness space and serving on the Marriott Corporate Spa & Retail Advisory Council since 2017, Smit was responsible for driving sales, enhancing guest experiences and he consulted on spa and wellness space development for the Edition brand globally. Before the EDITION, Smit worked at The Standard Spa in Miami and was the Health Club & Pool Department Head at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. In his spare time, he co-founded iRetreat, directing international wellness retreats and building the brand through successful marketing and service initiatives. 

Joshua Nudd, Executive Chef

With extensive senior leadership experience in the culinary space, Joshua Nudd joins Sensei Porcupine Creek as Executive Chef after tenures as Director of Food and Beverage at the five-star Little Nell in Aspen, CA and MacArthur Place in Sonoma, CA. For 12 years, Chef Nudd lived and worked between Hong Kong, mainland China and The Bahamas, serving as Executive Chef at Abaco Club, an exclusive private club in the Bahamas; Temple House in Chengdu, China; and the Niccolo by Marco Polo, an urban chic luxury brand also in Chengdu. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Nudd is described by his peers as an individual with integrity and a passion for the industry, spending the last 15 years focused on creating a great culture and atmosphere in the kitchen.

Jacob Heck, Director of Agronomy 

Jacob Heck recently joined the company as Director of Agronomy from his previous role at the nearby Palm Valley Country Club in Palm Desert, overseeing 200 acres and 36 holes of golf. He has held senior leadership roles in agronomy with Troon Golf and at multiple prestigious locations across the Coachella Valley, including Gary Player & Pete Dye golf courses at the Westin Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage, and as the Director of Agronomy at Indian Wells Golf Resort. Heck began his career in agronomy and horticulture at the young age of 14, volunteering with his father at the local country club and later working on farms in his home state of Iowa. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture with an emphasis on agronomy and turfgrass management from Iowa State University.

For more information on the brand, please visit sensei.com.

About Sensei

Sensei applies data-driven health knowledge and utilizes technology in its programs and services to promote preventative care and healthy lifestyle practices. It was founded by Larry Ellison, technology pioneer and co-founder of Oracle, and Dr. David Agus, a world-leading physician and scientist, The New York Times best-selling author and CBS News contributor. The two leading innovators were brought together by the loss of a close friend and motivated by a shared purpose: to help people live longer, healthier lives through the most current, evidence-led knowledge combined with a fresh philosophy on food, health, and lifestyle. The Sensei Way is informed by Dr. Agus’ lifetime of knowledge and devotion to self-care and preventative health science, and is based on the paths of move, nourish and rest to address wellbeing and give people the ability to grow well.