BMO Capital Markets has added Carl Kirst to its equity research team, as a senior research analyst.

Kirst will be based in Houston and will cover the North American natural gas industry, including pipeline, processing, and utility distribution companies, in a variety of structures ranging from C-corporations to master limited partnerships (MLPs), according to a news release.

“With Carl Kirst covering natural gas companies in both the U.S. and Canada, we continue to build upon our cross-border strategy of providing our clients with relevant and integrated investment ideas,” said Jack Blackstock, co-head of equity research at BMO Capital Markets.

Kirst has more than 10 years of sell-side research experience as a natural gas analyst. Prior to joining BMO he worked for Merrill Lynch, Jefferies, and most recently Credit Suisse Securities. As well, he helped establish Dennard Rupp Gray & Easterly, an investor relations agency, in 2003.

BMO Capital Markets’ energy, utilities and power equity research team now includes Kirst in Houston; Mike Worms in New York; Mike McGowan in Toronto; in Denver, Ray Deacon and Dan McSpirit; and in Calgary, Christopher Brown, Jim Byrne, Mark Leggett, Michael Mazar, Randy Ollenberger, Kent Porteous, Cameron Renkas, and Gordon Tait.