In an industry that is still all about deals, corporate brokers have long been a breed apart. Transactions are, of course, their ultimate goal. But the bulk of their interaction with clients is about the minutiae of the markets.

The head of one corporate broking division said: "I hesitate to describe the work as dull, because you're always learning something new about your clients and that's crucial for a broker. But, to an extent, being a geek can help at times, although it's possible to be too laid back as well - you need to think instinctively about transactions.