Industry Funds Management (IFM) has appointed a former leveraged finance specialist with Credit Suisse as an investment director with its infrastructure group.

Adrian Croft joined IFM’s Melbourne office in July 2009 to manage existing and new infrastructure products, and provide input into the sourcing, acquisition and operational oversight of assets within the manager’s infrastructure book.

He previously worked in Credit Suisse’s Tokyo office, and now reports to Kyle Mangini, head of infrastructure and specialised funds at IFM.

Mangini was confident that Croft was capable of successfully managing infrastructure assets after his tenure in leveraged finance.

“He has an extremely strong background in mergers and acquisitions as well,” Mangini said.

Meantime, Azhar Abidi has moved out of the infrastructure team to perform environmental, social and governance analysis across all asset classes, occupying the void left by Louise Davidson, who left IFM to become sustainability manager with the $12 billion Cbus in late 2008.

Meanwhile, Marigold Look has been promoted from associate to investment director within the Melbourne-based infrastructure team, and Werner Kerschl, from the manager’s London office, has also been shifted upward to the rank of investment director.

IFM employs six investment directors in its Melbourne-based infrsatructure team.