Word has hit the Block that Graham Murray (pictured) is about to join Savills from next week as head of residential sales. He joins Savills after 14 years with Sherry Fitz, where he worked in the Dundrum branch and until recently headed up its flagship Dún Laoghaire/Dalkey branch as a director along with Rosie Mulvaney.

The move looks like Savills is putting a marker of serious intent down in the residential sales space – last year was its busiest since 2007. It’s also understood there are plans afoot to expand and upgrade the branch network in the coming months. With Nama and the banks rolling out more and more smaller portfolios featuring a mix of residential and commercial properties, Savills is in the shakeout for many commercial properties and it’s keen to bolster its residential platform.

Up to about 18 months ago Ronan O’Driscoll had been largely responsible for residential sales at Savills, but after he moved to look after residential asset management, the role had been overseen by director Mark Reynolds.

Murray’s move from the Sherry Fitz Dún Laoghaire/Dalkey follows the recent appointment of Ronan O’Hara as residential director there. O’Hara was formerly a director with Savills in its Blackrock branch.