In a significant move that reinforces the growing international interest in the heavily-discounted Irish commercial property market, Kevin Donohue, a senior executive with JLL in London, is to move to Dublin to take up the position of head of investment with DTZ Sherry FitzGerald.

Bringing nearly 20 years of experience in the UK market, Donohue, a native of Galway, is currently a national director of JLL specialising in shopping centre investment and asset management.

He has considerable experience working with UK listed REITs, UK and international institutions, private property companies, overseas investors and high net worth individuals. He has been involved in numerous high-profile shopping centre transactions in the UK and in the last year has advised on more than £100 million worth of deals.

Donohue was previously the Strategic Investment Adviser on the £850 million Universities Superannuation Scheme Retail Pension Fund and was involved in over £300 million of sales and disposals for that fund between 2009 and 2011. He also acted in the sale of the 02 Shopping Centre on Finchley Road to Matterhorn Capital for £90 million.

Commenting on his move to Dublin, Donohue said he felt it was a good moment to return to Ireland as the country recovered from the biggest crash in post-war Europe with many of the economic indicators heading in the right direction.