To determine the members of Extel’s 2026 Asia (ex-Japan/ANZ) Executive Team, we surveyed buy-side analysts, money managers and sell-side researchers at securities firms and financial institutions that cover the region, including those who cast and received votes in this year’s All-Asia Research Team survey. The 2026 survey has been modified to allow more in-depth qualitative feedback on corporates. Survey results reflect the opinions from 5,581 investment professionals at 1,249 financial services firms. The total number of nominated companies went up from 1,668 in 2025 to 2,520 in this year survey.
We asked the participants to rate the chief executive officers, chief financial officers and investor relations professionals at the companies in their coverage universes. CEOs were rated on their credibility, leadership and communication. CFOs were rated on their ability in capital allocation, financial stewardship and communication. For the Investor Relations programs, companies were rated on the following attributes: roadshows/conferences/meetings; responsiveness; business and market knowledge; timeliness of disclosure; and consistency and granularity of disclosure. Voters also rated the corporate ESG and the company board of directors. All votes are weighted by rating (five being excellent; one being average) and attributes within each category were aggregated to create the CEO, CFO, IR Professional, IR Program, ESG and Company Board rankings.
The Overall rankings in each of the categories —CEO, CFO, IR Professional, IR Company, ESG, Company Board —are based on combined buy- and sell-side votes. Separate rosters (buy side, sell side) are also available for each award classification.
Derived from our 2026 Asia (ex-Japan/ANZ) Executive Team, firms are recognized in the Mainland China and Rest of Asia (ex-Mainland China) rankings. Using the same method as above, companies are ranked within their respective region to create separate rankings. The Small & Midcap results include all companies with less than $10B in market capitalization.
Honored Companies are companies who achieved at least one published position. To earn the designation of Most Honored Company in the Asia (ex-Japan/ANZ), Mainland China and Rest of Asia rankings, a company must achieve a weighted score of 15 or more points across the six categories in the combined, buy-side and sell-side rankings, wherein each first-place position is worth three points; second place, two; and third place, one.
To be eligible for inclusion on the 2026 Asia (ex-Japan/ANZ) Executive Team, a company must be headquartered in Asia. We keep confidential the identities of the survey respondents to ensure their continuing cooperation. Voters must meet eligibility requirements, and winners must achieve a minimum vote count. All ballots are subject to review by our Research Operations Group.
The ability to navigate the global uncertainties of 2026—from geopolitics, to technology and trade—while keeping an eye toward the future has been a tall order for business executives around the world this year. For the CEOs, CFOs and investor relations heads of companies in Asia, this becomes even more complex in region that is not a single homogeneous market but more defined by its differences.
“The most challenging aspect of our business is navigating the growing complexity of the global automotive industry while sustaining competitiveness through a period of industry transformation,” confirmed Zayong Koo, chief IR Officer of the Hyundai Motor Company, the multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. “Hyundai Motor Company operates far beyond regional boundaries, across a wide range of global markets with distinct customer needs, regulations, and competitive landscapes. This creates a constant need to balance global scale with local responsiveness.”
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