Similar to the first survey on The Asset’s Most Influential two years ago, a list of pre-selected names based on their access to decision makers as well as engagement with the public in the past 12 months was presented to readers and subscribers of TheAsset.com, the online edition of our magazine, over a four-week period to determine who, in their opinion, should rank as Asia’s most influential individuals for 2014.

In response to changing market dynamics, this year’s list of pre-selected names was grouped into five categories: wise men, tycoons and industrialists, pioneers and mavericks, bankers and next generation. The top five names which garnered the highest percentage of votes for each category were cited as the most influential.

Some familiar names who figured in the first survey of Asia’s most influential returned to the list this year, indicating that they continue to exert influence in their particular industries or markets. There were some names from two years ago that did not figure in the new list such as former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, former Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief Joseph Yam and former Asian Development Bank president Haruhiko Kuroda. Perhaps, the operative word here is former.

But some names who figured prominently two years ago still came up in this year’s list but have moved to new categories. Victor Fung (chairman, Li & Fung), for example, who was categorized as a pioneer two years ago is now cited among the wise men.

Similarly, Rattan Tata (chairman emeritus, Tata Group), who was named as an industrialist in the previous survey, has now also been classified as a wise man.

Li Ka-shing (chairman, Cheung Kong Holdings) and Mukest Ambani (chairman, Reliance Industries) made it back to the list of tycoons and industrialists while Henry Sy (founder, SM Group) and N R Narayana Murthy (co-founder, Infosys) also emerged among the top five tycoons.

Jack Ma (founder, Alibaba) and Tony Fernandes (CEO, Air Asia) still lead the list of pioneers and mavericks, retaining the respect of survey respondents as they represent those individuals who dared to go where others dare not tread.

An interesting development that cropped up in this year’s list of pioneers and mavericks is that as technology continues to change the world in a big way, successful companies engaged in this sector have become business models for start-up entrepreneurs, making their founders the new billionaires.

Of the top five pioneers and mavericks selected by The Asset’s online survey, four are from the technology space. The elite five leverage their creativity, strong will to win and business acumen to start or define an industry.

Among the bankers and investors, Ho Ching (executive director/CEO, Temasek Holdings) returned as the most influential, garnering 25% of the votes – a continuing recognition of her controversial risk-taking investment approach which paid off handsomely for Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund.

Another Singapore-based banker, Piyush Gupta (CEO of the DBS Group), ranked as the second most influential banker, cornering 17% of votes, reflecting the emergence of DBS as a regional bank and the rising prominence of Asian banks in general.

A new category in this year’s Asia’s Most Influential is the next generation (next gen) category. Call them what you will – born with the proverbial silver spoon – but these heirs (and one heiress) apparent to their father’s fat fortunes are deemed hard workers who have proved themselves to be deserving of their future inheritances.

The Asset’s list of the region’s most influential features five up-and-coming individuals groomed to manage big businesses and handle the limelight. They come from highly respected families with storied histories of entrepreneurial successes. They are also cited for their fresh takes and value added on their businesses.

The list of Asia’s Most Influential is constantly evolving, showing the region’s dynamism and the personalities who influence its future.