Standing still doesn’t sound like much of an ambition but that’s exactly what Martin Egan, BNP Paribas’ ebullient global head of primary markets and origination, wants to do in some markets.

In recent years, the French bank has topped the bookrunner table for euro-denominated bond issuance, according to Dealogic. Deutsche Bank currently occupies the top spot for 2013 but there is less than a percentage point of market share between the two firms.