AMP Capital has made a number of Institutional Director appointments in the US, reflecting its commitment to further build distribution capabilities in the Americas region and deliver greater levels of service and support to clients globally.

AMP Capital will also open a new office in Orange County, California, to better serve West Coast clients, reflecting AMP Capital's growing global presence.

Julia Szlakowski has been appointed Institutional Director – Unlisted, Americas. She is based in Southern California and will lead distribution efforts for AMP Capital's infrastructure debt and infrastructure equity strategies in North America.

Mark Miness has been appointed Institutional Director, West Coast, Americas. He is based in San Francisco and is responsible for covering institutional investment consultants and direct prospects for the western half of the Americas focusing on AMP Capital's extensive real asset capabilities.

Craig Watkins has been appointed Institutional Director, East Coast, Americas. He is based in AMP Capital's New York office and is responsible for covering institutional investment consultants and direct prospects for the eastern half of the Americas focusing on AMP Capital's extensive real asset capabilities.

Boe Pahari, AMP Capital Director, North West Region and Global Head of Infrastructure Equity, said:

"Building a specialist distribution team in North America is a key part of AMP Capital's broader strategy and these appointments are a positive step towards delivering our global growth aspirations.

"Julia, Mark and Craig bring a significant level of expertise to their respective roles and I am confident they will be key contributors to our ongoing success in North America. It's a priority market for AMP Capital, and one where we see lots of opportunity for the expertise we bring across unlisted infrastructure, listed infrastructure and real estate asset classes."

Ms. Szlakowski brings 15 years of capital raising, business development, client relations and marketing experience to AMP Capital. She was most recently Vice President for Champlain Advisors, a boutique fund placement agent, where she was responsible for raising institutional capital for private equity and real asset funds across western North America. Prior to that, Ms. Szlakowski held key sales and marketing roles with Eaton Partners LLC, a global fund placement agent, which included experience building the firm's presence in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Japan.

Mr Miness joined AMP Capital from Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. where he served as Vice President, Institutional Marketing and Consultant Relations. Based in San Francisco, Mr Miness was responsible for consultant relations and institutional business development in the western half of North America. During his tenure of more than eight years, he built significant expertise specific to real asset investing where he was responsible for distributing the firm's real asset capabilities including public and private real estate, listed infrastructure, Master Limited Partnerships, commodities, natural resources, diversified real assets, as well as preferred securities, and large cap equities.

Mr Watkins also joined AMP Capital from Cohen & Steers where he was Vice President, Institutional Marketing and Consultant Relations. Based in New York, Mr Watkins was responsible for consultant relations and institutional business development for the eastern half of North America. During a tenure of more than nine years, he built significant expertise specific to real asset investing where he was responsible for distributing the firm's real asset capabilities including public and private real estate, listed infrastructure, Master Limited Partnerships, commodities, natural resources, diversified real assets, as well as preferred securities, and large cap equities.

AMP Capital's new Orange County office will open February 2017. The new office adds to AMP Capital's existing North American presence, which includes offices in New York and Chicago.