Congratulations to Mullingar auctioneer and estate agent Pat Davitt who has been appointed the new chief executive of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV). In the business for 31 years Pat was managing director of Davitt & Davitt Auctioneers until 2010, and he has served as IPAV president on two previous occasions. He is also a member of the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) board. Pat succeeds outgoing chief executive Fintan McNamara. It’s understood McNamara has plans to establish a new residential landlords’ association in the coming months.