The Chief Executive of IPAV, Liam O’Donnell, is to retire on June 1 next. Liam, who has been the public face of IPAV for over 20 years will step down after this year’s Annual Convention which takes place in the Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare, Co. Limerick on May 12 and 13.

Making the announcement, Mr O’Donnell said he had immensely enjoyed his time with IPAV and in helping to develop it into a highly respected representative body for auctioneers and valuers nationwide.

“Today, the Institute boasts 800 members and it’s own impressive Headquarters on Baggot St.,” he said. “I would like to thank all the members and, in particular, the National Council for their support over the years.”

Mr O’Donnell has served as Chief Executive since the early 1980s and was President of the Institute himself from 1984 to 1988. He is also a Board member of the Confederation of European Estate Agents (CEI) and was its President in 1999/2000. He served on the Auctioneering/Estate Agency Review Group established by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform which reported last autumn and is a member of the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

Paying tribute to Liam, IPAV President, former Senator Willie Farrell said he had been the major figure in building up the Institute.

“Without him, IPAV would not be where it is today,” he said. “Members owe him a great deal of gratitude for helping to advance the standards of the auctioneering/estate agency profession in Ireland and, in particular, for establishing full and part-time education courses at various centres around the country thereby making the profession accessible to all.”

A successor to Mr O’Donnell will be appointed in the coming months.