DTZ, a leading global real estate adviser, has appointed Chris Balch as managing director for UK & Ireland.

He will have overall responsibility for DTZ's mainstream practice activities in the UK & Ireland and its minority interests in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

He takes over from Jeremy Payne who, after four years in the role, has decided to step down to focus on client service and practice and will take responsibility for the development and management of a number of national and regional clients.

He will be based in his home city of Birmingham. Robert Peto remains chairman of DTZ's UK & Ireland business.

Killian O'Higgins, EMEA managing director for DTZ, said: "Chris's appointment brings together the DTZ Debenham Tie Leung and DTZ Consulting & Research brands with a unified management team covering the UK & Ireland operations under the single DTZ name.

"In the ten years since he joined the company as a result of acquisition, Chris has held a number of key positions that have been central to the development of our integrated client service offering.

"This makes him well suited to this new role."

Chris has 30 years experience working in both local government and private practice.

He joined DTZ in 1997 following the acquisition of Pieda plc, a planning, economic and development consultancy.

Chris has subsequently fulfilled a number of roles in DTZ including leadership of the firm's development and regeneration team, establishment of consulting operations in Europe and, most recently, as managing director of DTZ Consulting & Research.

Jeremy joined Chesshire Gibson in 1981 as a graduate trainee gaining experience in agency, property management and valuation consultancy.

At the time of its merger into what is now DTZ in 1988, he headed the company's retail agency team.

In 2003, he was appointed managing director of DTZ Debenham Tie Leung in the UK.