eFinancial News has confirmed that Matt LeBlanc has been named chief investment officer for OECD Infrastructure Equity at JP Morgan Asset Management.

He was previously a principal at private equity energy specialist ArcLight Capital Partners. Blanc was before vice president of the energy advisory practice at Berenson Minella & Company, focusing on M&A and private equity transactions. He has also held roles at Salomon Smith Barney and NorthBridge Group.

LeBlanc, who will be based in New York. Since the beginning of 2013, JP Morgan infra team has recruited six new members - three based in London and three in New York.

eFinancial News reports that, Paul Ryan, promoted to the role of chief executive of OECD infrastructure equity and debt in March, said:

"Matt is an industry heavyweight, his transactional experience and expertise will help JP Morgan Asset Management to better source, structure and close transactions that meet the needs of our investors. Matt's arrival is the most recent demonstration of our on-going commitment to help investors access the powerful benefits of infrastructure investing."

JP Morgan recently said it believes portfolio allocations to real assets - particularly infrastructure - could increase from between 5% and 10% today, to 25% in the next decade.