Web search giant Google is now the world's most valuable brand, according to annual statistics published today. The Brandz list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Brands, compiled by Milward Brown, shows that Google has overtaken Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, General Electric and Microsoft - jumping from last year's seventh place to first.
The list's top ten is dominated by American firms, but also shows China Mobile and Toyota retaining their positions of strength in fifth and tenth place respectively.
Eileen Campbell, global CEO of Millward Brown, described it as "a huge achievement" for any brand to make the list.
Ms Campbell also suggested that the success of the list's leaders demonstrates "the real financial value that successful business and brand management can deliver".
She claimed that "responsible financial management and powerful marketing are an unbeatable combination that can be leveraged to create and grow corporate wealth".
Google's value has been a hot news topic of late.
This weekend, the company announced a 69 per cent leap in quarterly revenues - to $3.66 billion.
The figure shows that advertisers are keen to hitch their trailers to the branding success of Google.
There have, however, also been rumours of possible legal action by Microsoft and AT&T to prevent Google's takeover of marketing experts DoubleClick.
AT&T and Microsoft are said to fear that the Google brand is on the verge of an internet marketing monopoly.
