MLC has appointed Stuart Kieghran to the newly created role of portfolio manager for property and unlisted assets.

The move is part of the company's plan to expand its investment management business in the region. Kieghran, who joins MLC from Alliance Bernstein, takes responsibility for the firm's property and unlisted asset strategies and will undertake research into global and domestic listed and unlisted property and infrastructure. Based in the North Sydney office, he will also be in charge of selecting managers for the unit.

"The creation of this portfolio manager role provides MLC Investment Management with a dedicated portfolio manager for property investments. This is in addition to our other portfolio managers for domestic equities, global equities, fixed income, private equity, and alternatives," Dr Susan Gosling, the acting chief investment officer for MLC, said in a statement.

Keighran's appointment comes on the heels of several high profile hires at MLC over the past months, which include the hiring of Nicky Richards as CIO, Michael Karagianis as investment strategist, and Stefano Cavaglia as alternatives portfolio manager.