Larry Brennan, head of Savills retail business in Ireland, is to take on the additional responsibility of chairman of the company's continental European retail group.

Mr Brennan, who is in his 25th year with the firm, will be responsible for driving Savills retail service in the core markets of Spain, Germany and France.

He will also be tasked with identifying partnerships to help service other key markets such as Italy, Turkey, Russia and Scandinavia.

Like Ireland, Mr Brennan said, mainland Europe was enjoying a resurgence in retailer demand with increased activity in all the core markets.

The firm’s strength in London, Asia and now the USA through Savills Studley gave it extensive international retailer access, he said, which would be leveraged to grow its European presence.

Mr Brennan also noted the opportunity to open the Irish market to new brands and retail concepts, which would be an area of particular focus for him.