Kurush Mistry

Kurush Mistry is an experienced expert in commodity analysis, specifically in Crude Oil, Refined Products, and Renewable Fuels. Originally from India, Kurush completed his education at India's most prestigious management school and has had a diverse career at top organizations, navigating through significant transitions. He loves music, enjoys traveling, and is proud to call himself a New Yorker. After earning a degree in Commerce from Chennai, India, he became a Chartered Accountant, achieving top rankings in all three qualifying exams. With a solid foundation, he went on to pursue an MBA in finance at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, where he was able to learn about the latest business concepts and collaborate with colleagues from diverse educational backgrounds, honing his problem-solving and communication skills. Kurush's professional journey began in 2003 when he joined Lehman Brothers in Tokyo after completing his MBA. He was recruited to be part of their Interest Rate Strategies Team, which gave him his first taste of an international corporate environment, the chance to apply his financial knowledge in real-world scenarios, and an enriching cultural experience. In 2005, he moved to Lehman in New York. He worked with their award-winning Interest Rate Strategies team until 2008, handling a diverse portfolio of products such as US Government Bonds and Interest Rate Derivatives. During this time, he earned a strong reputation among Lehman's US clients, including central banks, mortgage companies, and pension funds, and played a significant role in the team's growth. In 2009 the aftermath of the financial crisis, Kurush made a career change and joined Morgan Stanley, one of the leading oil-trading firms at the time, where he worked on their US gasoline and diesel physical trading team. Here, he helped develop analytics, collaborated with traders to create profitable strategies, and gained valuable experience in physical and paper gasoline trading. His brief stint in trading gives him a unique perspective in his analytical work and allows him to have meaningful discussions with his trader clients. In 2014, Kurush became the sole Oil analyst at Freepoint Commodities and has since significantly contributed to developing their global oil analytics framework, incorporating alternative data into the analysis, particularly in a post-Covid world. From 2014 to 2023, he worked closely with over 25 traders, providing them with market intelligence, supply-demand forecasts, and trade ideas. Kurush covered various products in the oil industry, including crushing crude, LPG, gasoline, fuel oil, and refinery margins. In 2022, he expanded his expertise to include renewable fuels and feedstocks, such as ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuels, and US soybean oil. Throughout his career, he has shown a keen interest in recruiting, mentoring, and training junior colleagues, helping them advance in their careers. He takes pride in watching them grow into senior roles at prominent organizations. Kurush has been living in New York since 2005 and feels at home in the fast-paced, diverse city where he can enjoy its rich cultural opportunities. Amidst his busy schedule, he finds solace in listening to music and playing his guitar. He also has a keen interest in reading non-fiction, politics, and traveling, which has taken him to various destinations rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. In 2009, Kurush had the unique opportunity to produce a low-budget feature film set in New York, working with a team of inexperienced co-creators. Although the film received modest critical acclaim, the experience was refreshing and challenging, taking him out of his comfort zone and exposing him to a different industry and the complexities of running a small business. Committed to giving back to the community, Kurush actively donates to various charities focused on hunger, refugees, legal aid, and the environment.