AMP Capital has hired former Manchester Airports Group (MAG) director Graeme Ferguson to lead its Airports business in Europe.

The $140bn global investment manager said Ferguson will join its European asset management team as an investment director and head of Airports for Europe.

AMP Capital’s airport investments in Europe currently comprise London Luton, Leeds Bradford and Newcastle airports.

Ferguson also joins the boards of Leeds Bradford and Newcastle airports.

AMP Capital said Ferguson, in London, will help maximise value in AMP Capital’s airport investments, managing the ”investments to deliver sustainable operational performance and returns, and identifying and managing key risks”.

He will also provide insights and advice to the origination teams for new airport acquisition opportunities and report to Malcolm Brown, the head of asset management, Europe.

Prior to joining AMP Capital, Ferguson was corporate development director at MAG, where he was responsible for setting corporate strategy for MAG, stakeholder engagement and identifying and developing growth opportunities in targeted market segments worldwide.

He began his career as a solicitor in Allen & Overy’s Projects, Transport and Infrastructure Group before moving to the legal team at Grupo Ferrovial’s Amey in 2008 in its infrastructure investment division.

Brown said: “Sector expertise has become a key differentiator among infrastructure investment firms, with investors seeking an increasingly specialised approach, and in an infrastructure market where competition is high, active asset management’s value-add potential is essential.”

Ferguson’s extensive experience and deep knowledge of the UK airport sector will help AMP to maximise the value of its significant investments in this market, Brown added.