KKR Capstone, the operations group that works on KKR investments, has appointed Matthew Claughton as a director in Sydney.

Having first invested in the market in 2006, KKR has deployed more than US$2 billion in the market. Since the beginning of the year, KKR has augmented its investment capabilities with key hires in credit, real estate and energy, resources and infrastructure. Tony Schultz joined as managing director in March as a dedicated energy and natural resources hire for the region. Frances Lim, a director on KKR's global macro asset and allocation team, is relocating to Sydney by the year-end. In September, KKR added the first dedicated resources for the global real estate team in Sydney following the first announced real estate investment in Australia, the World Trade Centre in Melbourne.

KKR Capstone in Australia has worked with former and existing KKR portfolio companies since 2006, including Bis Industries, GenesisCare, Santanol and Seven West Media.

Claughton most recently was group general manager of Pacific Brands' workwear business unit, and previously managed the group's business development, human resources and international business across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. Previously, he was a director of strategy and business development at Foster's Group and started his career at McKinsey & Co.