Dev Singhsachthep on Fitness, Wellness, and Staying Active

I grew up in a supportive family that taught me the value of hard work, responsibility, and respect for others. I attended international schools in Thailand before moving to Sydney for high school, then later completed my studies in Banking & Finance and Hotel Management in Switzerland. Living abroad at a young age was a defining experience. It taught me independence, resilience, and adaptability, while exposure to different cultures broadened my perspective and helped shape both my life and career.

Honestly, I wasn't particularly passionate about fitness until my mid-20s. Growing up, I played plenty of sports, mainly soccer and basketball, with soccer being my favourite. I enjoyed being active, but I was never especially competitive. That changed early in my career when I wanted to become stronger, both physically and mentally, and started going to the gym. Over time, fitness evolved from a personal goal into a genuine passion and an important part of my lifestyle. Interestingly, my competitive side didn't really emerge until after the COVID-19 pandemic, when I discovered a love for running and endurance events. Since then, I've taken part in Spartan races, HYROX competitions, road races, and trail-running events. What I enjoy most isn't competing against others, but challenging myself and seeing what I'm capable of.

I was 100 percent certain that the medical field was not for me. Growing up, I was frequently asked whether I would follow in my father's footsteps and become a doctor. While I didn't really know what career path I wanted to pursue at the time, I knew with absolute certainty that medicine wasn't it. Needles, hospitals, and the sight of blood have never been my thing.

I was working at Shangri-La at the time and felt I had reached a crossroads in my career. While I enjoyed hospitality, I knew I wanted to challenge myself in a new environment and continue growing professionally. Around that time, Virgin Active was recruiting leaders for the opening of its third club in Thailand, Virgin Active Westgate. The opportunity immediately stood out because it combined a fast-growing, ambitious business with an industry that aligned more closely with my personal interests. Looking back, it was one of the best career decisions I've made. What started as a new challenge has turned into an incredibly rewarding journey in the fitness and wellness industry and ultimately led me to where I am today.

As Head of Operations & Safety at Virgin Active Thailand, my role is all about ensuring our clubs operate safely, efficiently, and consistently while delivering a great experience for our members. My responsibilities range from club operations, health and safety, and facilities management to major refurbishment and maintenance / growth projects. It's also a commercially focused role, making sure we're investing wisely, managing costs effectively, and supporting the long-term growth of the business. Ultimately, my job is to balance member experience, operational excellence, safety, and financial performance to help create great clubs for our members and teams.

The biggest turning point in my career was leaving the hotel industry and joining Virgin Active. At the time, I was working at Shangri-La and felt ready for a new challenge that aligned more closely with my interests and passions. Joining the opening team at Virgin Active Westgate was a leap of faith, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made. It allowed me to apply the skills I'd developed in hospitality while building a career in an industry I genuinely enjoy. 11 years later, I'm still here and have been fortunate to grow through a variety of leadership roles. Looking back, that decision shaped the career I've had today.

Consumers today are looking for a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing, and that's something Virgin Active has embraced for many years. Our clubs are designed to support overall wellness through a combination of exercise, recovery, nutrition, and community. Members have access to a wide range of training experiences, recovery facilities such as steam rooms, spa pools and cold plunges, as well as nutritious food and beverage options through KAUAI Thailand. Beyond physical fitness, we focus on creating environments where people can connect, recharge, and build sustainable healthy habits. Our goal isn't just to help people exercise more, but to help them live healthier, happier, and more balanced lives.

We've seen Gen Z and Millennials look for more than just a workout. They want variety, community, and a more holistic approach to wellbeing. They're drawn to experiences like Pilates, HIIT, yoga, and cycling, while also placing greater importance on recovery and mental wellbeing. What makes Virgin Active unique is that members can access all of this, along with traditional gym facilities, under one roof. While trends will continue to evolve, people increasingly want results, wellness, and community in one place, and our focus is to continue meeting those needs.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day. More often than not, it's not a lack of time, but competing priorities. The good news is that exercise doesn't have to take hours to be effective. Even 20 to 30 minutes can have a positive impact on your energy, mood, and overall wellbeing. My advice is to schedule it like any other important commitment, start small, stay consistent, and focus on building a habit that fits your lifestyle. Over time, those small efforts can lead to significant results.

Personalisation will be a major trend, with people looking for health and fitness solutions tailored to their individual goals and lifestyles. We're also seeing a growing focus on longevity, with recovery, sleep, and mental wellbeing becoming just as important as exercise. The future of wellness is about helping people live healthier for longer through a more personalised approach to health.

Looking back, I'm most proud of the journey itself. I've had the opportunity to grow from managing a single club to leading Operations & Safety across Virgin Active Thailand, and it's been incredibly rewarding to grow alongside the business over the past 11 years. I'm also proud to have played a role in opening new clubs and delivering major refurbishments and enhancements that have improved the member experience. More than anything, I'm grateful for the opportunities I've been given, the people I've worked with, and the chance to contribute to the growth of a brand I'm genuinely passionate about.

First of all, 11 years ago I didn’t have kids, and now I have three, so my Monday mornings are a lot less peaceful! [Laughs]. These days, it starts with the school run, followed by a gym session, run, or Pilates before diving into the week. Professionally, I’ve gone from managing one club to overseeing Operations & Safety across Thailand, so Mondays are now all about strategy, business performance, supporting our teams, and overseeing key territory projects.

I think the wellness and fitness industry will become increasingly personalised over the next five years, with technology and AI playing a bigger role in helping people make smarter decisions around training, recovery, nutrition, and overall wellbeing. At the same time, we'll see a stronger focus on recovery, mental wellbeing, and longevity. While technology will be a key enabler, human connection, coaching, and community will remain just as important as ever.

It's quite easy because fitness has become a genuine passion. I often say I live and breathe it, both professionally and personally. I enjoy setting new goals, whether that's strength training, running, or an endurance event, and having something to work towards keeps things interesting. More importantly, fitness helps me manage stress, maintain energy, and support my overall wellbeing. That said, if there's one area I still need to work on, it's recovery. Like many people, I'm much better at training than I am at slowing down and prioritising rest!

I stay grounded by focusing on how fitness makes me feel rather than how it makes me look. The physical results are a bonus, but the real value comes from the energy, resilience, mental clarity, and confidence it gives me every day. Fitness is a big passion of mine, but it's only one part of who I am. Being a father of three and having a busy career helps keep things in perspective. I focus less on perfection and more on building sustainable habits that support my overall wellbeing.