Axel has been in Japan since early 1998. Prior to his current post as Managing Director of Banister Japan, he worked with two local Tokyo executive search boutiques, acquiring a thorough understanding of the Japanese market. While at his previous company he was approached by a particularly satisfied client, a global consulting firm, about launching his own company. A deal was struck and the consulting firm helped Axel launch his company in return for concentrated search services at the senior level. Axel's firm is now a member of the global Banister network. Since launching, it has placed a great number of Partners, Directors and Senior Managers with their consulting client. Other high profile recruitments included a CIO for a Japanese CRM provider, a Head of Operations for a top-tier Investment Bank and a Head of Marketing for an insurance company. Fluent in Japanese, Axel brings value to his clients by bridging the cultural divide between the West and Japan. Executives charged with building presences in Japan find his advice invaluable and rely on him to facilitate a smooth entry into this market. Before his career in executive search, Axel studied Political Science and Japanese studies at the University of Bonn, Germany, and also spent one year on an intensive language training course at Keio University, Tokyo