Dexus has poached one of AustralianSuper’s top fund managers, Nik Kemp, as part of a strategy to turn the real estate heavyweight into an infrastructure investment giant.

Mr Kemp, the industry superannuation fund’s head of infrastructure, has been appointed executive general manager for growth markets at Dexus. It is the biggest hire so far by Dexus’ new chief executive, Ross Du Vernet, who took over the top post from long-serving Darren Steinberg this year.