IT’S ALL change in the world of country homes, with dapper David Ashmore being appointed director of Sherry FitzGerald Countrywide.

He takes up the job after 13 years in Savills country division, where he handled lots of notable sales – e.g., the Farnham Estate in Cavan. Ashmore will chase the farm market as well as head up Christies Real Estate International in Ireland. He’ll be working alongside Philip Sherry in the agency’s a new Country Homes, Farms Estates department.

Philip, who acted as Sherry Fitz’s excutive chairman, will step down from running Christies to get involved in running Countrywide. Meanwhile Ian McCarthy, head of Countrywide for 21 years, is leaving the agency to explore new territory – but he’s staying in the property business.