Banks in Asia nominate best headhunters

In ex-Japan Asia, Executive Access was rated first and Eban second in the poll, drawn from responses from 317 senior managers. They had the same ratings last year.

Eban's Stephen McAlinden and Ranjan Marwah of Executive Access, both Hong Kong-based, were rated first and second respectively among individual headhunters.

Eban has also taken Heidrick & Struggles' place as the best ranked search firm in Japan..

Alexander Mann jumped up a place to 3rd in ex-Japan Asia under the leadership of Mike Brennan.

The firm is ranked number one in derivatives and structured products, which Asiamoney said were among the few areas of financial services to show any growth recently.

Alexander Mann also took 1st place in private banking, and has three headhunters in the ranking of top 10 individuals - Mike Brennan, Justin McLennan and Jeremy Harris.

Headhunter Harry O'Neill of Whitney O'Neill, the region's leading debt specialist for years, ranked third among individual headhunters.