The Omnicom Group-owned brand consultancy measures brand valuation on the financial performance of branded products and services, the role a brand plays in a consumer’s purchase decisions and the brand’s competitive strengths and ability to create loyalty. This year’s report marks Interbrand’s 20th “Best Global Brands” report.
Daniel Binns, Interbrand’s New York CEO, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Thursday morning that Facebook’s departure had to do with privacy and security driving consumer choice. Facebook first entered the Best Global Brands report in 2012 at #69, and peaked in 2017 at #8, the company said in a release. Facebook sits at #14 on the 2019 list.
“They’ve obviously had a tough year,” Binns said. “Something like an Apple has done a really great job of doubling down on [privacy], as has Microsoft.”
Facebook continues to grapple with its privacy practices and scrutiny over how it uses consumers’ personal data. It’s also the subject of antitrust probes. It’s not the only big tech company that’s being scrutinized for anticompetitive behavior — Google, Amazon and Apple are being examined too. But it seems Facebook’s consumer reputation has taken more of a ding than its counterparts.
In numerical order, this year’s list is topped by Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft. Following are Coca-Cola, Samsung, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, McDonald’s and Disney.
Why Google’s own privacy concerns weren’t as much of an issue for its involvement on the list, Binns said it had to do with consumers still seeing high value from the tech giant’s products.
“It’s basically a tradeoff … between utility and handing over your consumer data,” he said. “Right now, utility is winning.”
Disney’s placement in the top 10 says something about consumer anticipation around what Disney is doing in the media space.
“The Disney+ promise is really powerful,” Binns said.
