< The 2014 All-Europe Research Team Robert PlantBusiness & Employment ServicesJ.P. Morgan Cazenove

Talk about hitting the ground running! Robert Plant and his team at J.P. Morgan Cazenove debuted in the runner-up position in 2013 and this year catapult all the way to No. 1 in Business & Employment Services.

Plant, 39, says he found the idea of a career as an equity analyst enticing after studying history at England’s University of Cambridge.

“The first appeal was the opportunity to research and write and present my ideas,” the London-based team leader explains. “I especially like the fact that the job is very well rounded, involving a range of skills such as modeling, analysis, writing, talking to clients and meeting management teams. The sector is very diverse, and we cover a lot of companies, so staying on top of all of the news flow and results can be tricky.”

Plant is upbeat about the year ahead. “Although the market will be beset from time to time with concerns, especially regarding the outlook for emerging markets, there is a genuine economic recovery taking hold, led by the U.S., and 2014 will be another year of economic progress,” he declares. “That said, many stocks are on quite high valuations, which could be said to price in a fairly rosy outlook.”Read His Profile