Estate agent DTZ Sherry FitzGerald has announced that John Costello, who is joining the firm as director, will lead a new division focusing on corporate and public-sector clients.

Mr Costello , a former president of the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland, has been running his own niche commercial practice, Costello Commercial, since 1989. A qualified chartered surveyor, he also holds a master’s and a diploma in arbitration law.

Mark FitzGerald, executive chairman of the Sherry FitzGerald Group, said there was a significant number of organisations in Ireland whose core business was not property but who nonetheless had significant involvement in property. “Given our wide sectoral expertise, John will focus on broadening our client base working with many leading Irish and international companies as well as the semi-state sector.”