Billionaire Mukesh Ambani has once again emerged as the highest-placed Indian in the Brand Guardianship Index 2024, securing the second position globally. The index, compiled by Brand Finance, acknowledges Ambani’s exceptional leadership in building sustainable business value and balancing the interests of stakeholders.
In the global rankings, Ambani surpassed industry stalwarts like Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Google’s Sundar Pichai, landing just behind Tencent’s Huateng Ma. The Brand Guardianship Index recognizes CEOs who contribute to long-term value by considering the needs of employees, investors, and wider society.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran climbed the ranks to secure the fifth position, moving up from eighth place in the 2023 rankings. Anish Shah of Mahindra and Mahindra claimed the sixth spot, while Salil Parekh of Infosys secured the sixteenth position.
Ambani’s consistent global standing reflects his commitment to brand guardianship, as evidenced by his second-place ranking in the 2023 index. This year, he topped the list among ‘Diversified’ conglomerates, outshining industry leaders such as Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook of Apple, and Elon Musk of Tesla.
Brand Finance’s survey awarded Ambani an impressive BGI score of 80.3, just below the top scorer, Huateng Ma, who achieved a score of 81.6. The BGI scorecard evaluates CEOs based on their ability to act as stewards of their company’s brand and ensure long-term value.
This year’s analysis revealed that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have become the primary driving force in determining CEO reputation. Being recognized as a ‘sustainability champion’ accounted for 14% of the variation in reputation scores, surpassing factors like trustworthiness and global recognition.
Brand guardians, according to Brand Finance, play a pivotal role in building brand and business value. They forge win-win partnerships, redefine the CEO’s role from ultra-competitive entrepreneur to collaborative diplomat, and contribute to a sustainable future.
The Brand Guardianship Index celebrates CEOs who successfully balance commercial success, long-term brand building, and personal reputation management. Brand Finance employs a balanced scorecard that includes ‘Perception,’ ‘Performance,’ and ‘Promotion’ factors to assess a CEO’s ability to safeguard their company’s brand and shareholder value.
In a recent report, Jio, a relatively new brand, was recognized as the strongest brand from India in the ‘Global 500 – 2024,’ surpassing longstanding Indian brands like LIC and SBI in Brand Finance’s rankings for two consecutive years.
