Claire Solon, the head of estates management with responsibility for the ESB property portfolio, has been named head of property at Friends First. She was heavily involved in the ESB's successful campaign to secure planning permission for the redevelopment of its head office on Lower Fitzwilliam Street and its replacement with a 40,000sq m office facility.

Ms Solon holds a first-class honours degree in property economics and lectured in degree and master’s courses in DIT.

She is senior vice president of the Society of Chartered Surveyors.