Apex K.K. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Managing Director: Brock Worbets; hereafter “Apex”), an executive search and recruitment firm serving multinational and Japanese global companies in Japan, has been named to the Best Workplaces in Asia list by the Great Place To Work® Institute for the third consecutive year.
This year's list draws on survey data from more than 3.8 million employees across 19 countries and territories in Asia and the Middle East, with 200 companies selected for recognition.
Apex was also named to the 2026 Best Workplaces in Japan list, placing among the top 100 companies and ranking No. 8 in the medium-sized company category.
As participation continues to grow and competition becomes stronger, three consecutive years of recognition across both the Japan and Asia rankings make this achievement especially meaningful. Behind it is something Apex has built into the business since day one: a people-first approach to building the organization.
Japan's Engagement Gap and Why It Matters
For more than 30 years, Great Place to Work® has conducted employee surveys around the world, measuring trust in leadership, camaraderie among colleagues, and employees' sense of purpose at work. It also looks at whether employees feel safe speaking up, whether they perceive evaluations as fair, and whether they have genuine opportunities to grow.
By these measures, Japan continues to face challenges compared with other markets. Great Place To Work Institute Japan (GPTW Japan) notes that workplace fulfillment at Japanese companies is often said to be lower than in Europe and the United States, and that Japanese companies also score relatively low in its own surveys.
Source: Great Place To Work Institute Japan, 'About GPTW Japan'
Source: Created by Apex based on Gallup, State of the Global Workplace 2026
Only 8% of employees in Japan are engaged at work, compared with the global average of 20% and 31% in the United States and Canada. The gap underscores just how important it is for companies in Japan to create environments where employees feel engaged, supported, and able to contribute with a sense of ownership.
Within this environment, Apex has translated its belief in putting people first into practical, day-to-day initiatives across employee development, team collaboration, and performance management. This recognition reflects the accumulation of those efforts and the workplace environment they have helped create.
What "People First" Actually Looks Like at Apex
Apex's starting premise is simple: its people are central to the company's success.
Today, Apex has approximately 170 employees representing 20 nationalities. Women account for 61.6% of employees, while non-Japanese employees account for 38.4%. Making that diversity a strength runs through everything from how Apex develops people to how it recognizes performance and brings company values into everyday work.
A Continuous Growth Cycle Beyond One-Off Training
To ensure training does not end with one-time knowledge acquisition, Apex emphasizes a continuous cycle: learn, apply, receive feedback, and apply again.
From building strong foundations through onboarding to deepening recruiter expertise and strengthening managers' leadership capabilities, Apex continuously provides practical development opportunities suited to each career stage. By combining training based on real work situations with feedback, employees can identify their own development areas and take ownership of improving their skills.
These practical development programs are also contributing to measurable outcomes. Preliminary 2026 data shows that the time for new employees to reach their first placement shortened by approximately one month compared with the previous year. Rather than treating the delivery of training as an end in itself, Apex monitors changes in these outcomes as it supports sustained employee growth.
Rewarding Collaboration Across Teams
Recruitment can be a highly individual and performance-driven industry, which can make collaboration across specialist areas more difficult. With this in mind, Apex's 'One Team' value is supported by a framework that recognizes collaboration across teams and areas of expertise.
Beyond simply encouraging cooperation, outcomes created through collaboration are reflected in performance evaluations and incentives, helping create an environment where employees naturally share knowledge and networks.
Turning Company Values into Everyday Actions
Values are easy to put into words. The challenge is making them visible in how people actually work.
One example is the Apex Value Award, a peer-nominated recognition where employees vote for colleagues who visibly embody the company's values in their day-to-day work. The actions behind those nominations are shared and celebrated across the organization, helping turn abstract values into visible, everyday behaviors.
Comment from Managing Director Brock Worbets
"We are truly honored to be named one of the Best Workplaces in Asia for the third consecutive year. Since Apex was founded, we have believed that our people are central to our success and have worked to create growth opportunities that respect each individual's potential. What matters to us is not simply stating our values, but embedding them in the way we develop people, recognize performance, and collaborate as a team. The culture we have today - where individuals can use their strengths while contributing to team success - has been built through these daily efforts. We do not see this recognition as the finish line. We will continue to value integrity, transparency, and supportive teamwork as we build an organization where every employee can realize their potential and grow over the long term."
About Apex K.K.
Apex is an executive search and recruitment firm supporting senior and highly skilled professionals pursuing career opportunities with multinational and Japanese companies. Its clients range from globally recognized large companies to small and midsize businesses and startups entering Japan for the first time. Apex covers 11 sectors: Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Science & Technology, IT, HealthTech, Banking & Financial Services, Consumer, Legal & Compliance, Human Resources & General Affairs, Finance & Accounting, and Supply Chain & Procurement. The company provides tailored support to both candidates and hiring companies.
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