Christie Hefner, daughter of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, has joined Tucson, US-based wellness group Canyon Ranch.

Hefner was until 2009 chair and CEO of Playboy Enterprises and since her departure from Playboy has acted as a consultant to Canyon Ranch.

She has been named executive chair of Canyon Ranch Enterprises, a new division that has been established to extend the company's activities beyond the on-property activities of its resorts and SpaClub facilities.

Under Hefner, the new division will focus on creating a branded media presence and other new business ventures.

She said: "I'm very excited to be working with Canyon Ranch in this new capacity.

"The interest in health and wellbeing is great and growing."

Canyon Ranch has destination health resorts in Tucson, Arizona; Lenox, Massachusett; and recently opened Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach.