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Kenneth Courtis

Chairman of Starfort Investment Holdings

Kenneth S. Courtis is the chairman of Starfort Investment Holdings and managing partner of Courtis Global & Associates. He is also co-founder of Themes Investment Management, the private equity firm, and chairman of Asia Frontier Capital.

He was formerly managing director of Goldman Sachs and vice chairman of Goldman Sachs Asia. Previously, he was Managing Director of Deutsche Bank and Chief Economist and Investment Strategist, Deutsche Bank Asia.

Mr. Courtis advises clients in the Asia–Pacific region, as well as in Europe, North and South America on how global market forces, finance, politics and corporate strategy interact.

He is and has been a member of the boards and advisory councils of a number of leading international firms, including Emerson, Daimler, Capitaland, Noble Group, BTG-Pactual, China National Off Shore Oil Corporation and GEMS private equity funds.

He is an international councilor of the Asia Society of New York, a director of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, a member of the advisory boards of the Schulich School of Business Management and of Glendon College, Toronto, of the Economic Strategy Institute, Washington and has been a trustee of universities and research institutes in Asia, Europe and North America.

Mr. Courtis has lectured at Keio and Tokyo universities, Japan’s two most prestigious educational institutions, l’Institut d’etudes politiques, in Paris, and at universities in North America.

He received an undergraduate degree from Glendon College in Toronto and an M.A. in international relations from Sussex University in the United Kingdom. He earned an MBA at the European Institute of Business Administration and received a doctorate with honors and high distinction, from l’Institut d’etudes politiques, Paris.

He has lived and worked in Asia for more than 25 years.

Articles by Kenneth Courtis

Bad News from the Global Oil Market

Trump’s tweet-based badgering of the Saudis to increase production will not ease pressures resting on the global oil market. High time to do a reality check.

July 16, 2018

Ukraine: Something Is Happening Here…

After using the Russian invasion diligently for plenty of international support, Ukraine’s elites aren’t holding up their side of the bargain: They keep ruining their country.

September 17, 2017

Ukraine’s Downward Spiral

A report from Kiev on corruption and hopelessness.

July 2, 2017

Syria: The Equation Changes As Germany’s Merkel Makes a Move

Will the U.S. government catch up to Russia, China, Iran and Germany as they shape a new global consensus on Syria?

September 28, 2015

Sunny London Sunday… and Other Satanic Verses

Calls for still more military action against Syria? We have been here before... Too many times.

September 10, 2015

Why Single Out China?

Governments everywhere respond to stock market turmoil -- not just China's.

July 14, 2015

Japan: From Abenomics to Abeggedon

Japan’s lack of political circumspection has economic consequences.

November 26, 2014

Japan Vs. China: Oil and a Tale of Two Countries

How the oil price drop has very different effects on China and Japan.

November 25, 2014

The Oil Price Crash: Who Dunnit?

Observations on the latest Saudi-American geo-strategic drone.

November 24, 2014

Obama, Move Over

Strong performances by Xi and Putin at the APEC Summit.

November 10, 2014

China: Hiding Your Strength and Biding Your Time

APEC Summit reflections on China’s impressive policy and reform path.

November 10, 2014

Japan Rolls the Dice: A Report From Tokyo

On the global consequences of a large economy refusing to reform itself.

November 1, 2014

Just How Deeply Ingrained is Corruption in China?

China’s anti-corruption fight requires another revolution.

August 7, 2014

Japan: Still Not Owning Up to Its Dark History

Prime Minister Abe's fourth arrow should be a credible national apology.

October 31, 2013

Japan and Weimar

How are Japanese nationalists trying to change the constitution "without anyone noticing"?

August 20, 2013