Google Cracks Top Ten Global Brands List

NEW YORK, September 19:
Interbrand has released its annual ranking of the world’s most valuable brands,
with Google cracking the top ten for the first time at a brand value of $25.6
billion, a 43-percent rise on the year-ago period.

Coca-Cola remained in the
number one spot, with its brand value up 2 percent to $66.7 billion, followed
by IBM ($59 billion), Microsoft ($59 billion), General Electric ($53.1
billion), Nokia ($35.9 billion) and Toyota ($34 billion). Disney was in the
number nine spot with a value of $29.3 billion. Rounding out the top ten were
Intel and McDonald’s.

Apple was ranked 24th, with
a 24-percent increase in value to $13.6 billion, alongside Sony. MTV was in the
52nd spot at $7.2 billion. The Amazon.com brand was valued at $6.4 billion, and
Yahoo! came in 65th with $5.5 billion, a 9-percent drop on the previous year.

“The Best Global Brands
2008 ranking is a reflection of the global economy—the current credit
crisis in the U.S., the growth of emerging markets and the increased emphasis
on sustainability are all key trends that resulted in brands rising or failing
on the list,” said Jez Frampton, the global CEO of Interbrand. “The increasing
complexities of the global economy reinforce the importance of protecting and
growing a brand. It is a company’s most valuable asset—and a far less
volatile asset than others during a time of economic uncertainty.”

—By Mansha Daswani