Kokomo Private Island, Fiji’s most exclusive private island, has appointed Karen Merrick as its new General Manager, bringing more than two decades of international leadership experience to our award-winning property.
Karen joins Kokomo following senior roles with Aman, Soneva, JA Resorts and Song Saa Private Island, where she built a reputation for transforming luxury assets and guiding high-performing teams in remote, design-forward destinations. Her appointment reflects Kokomo’s continued evolution not just as Fiji’s most exclusive private island, but as a model for thoughtful, experience-led hospitality.
“Leadership today requires equal parts commercial focus and cultural sensitivity,” she says. “The most successful resorts are those that balance operational excellence with authenticity where sustainability, community and innovation are not competing priorities, but complementary ones.”
Originally from Scotland and now at home in the landscapes of the Maldives and Fiji, Merrick has always gravitated toward destinations where nature shapes not only the experience, but the philosophy. That instinct aligns seamlessly with Kokomo.
“Kokomo occupies a rare position in the market, it’s an independent brand with the standards of a global operator and the soul of a family enterprise,” she explains. “That combination allows us to make fast, meaningful decisions, to innovate, and to deliver a guest experience that feels both personal and world-class.”
Her focus in the months ahead is clear: strengthening Kokomo’s positioning across key international markets, deepening the island’s sustainability framework, and cultivating a leadership culture defined by purpose, integrity, and pride of place. As she notes, “In an industry increasingly driven by metrics, it’s important to remember that people remain the ultimate differentiator. Our team is our greatest asset and empowering them to lead with confidence and care is central to Kokomo’s success.”
Karen’s arrival marks a new era, one that honours the legacy of Kokomo’s founder, the late Lang Walker, while charting a future defined by stewardship, innovation, and connection. For guests, it means an experience that continues to feel deeply personal, intuitively delivered, and unmistakably Kokomo.