Samsung: +19%
Samsung has gained more global brand value than any other brand ranked over the last five years by BusinessWeek/Interbrand. A big contributor has been Samsung's bold Internet-marketing strategy developed by Peter Weedfald, its North American chief of corporate marketing and consumer electronics.
Five years ago, Weedfald entered into long-term contracts with more than 400 high-traffic Web sites, negotiating for top banner position. Samsung now has right of first refusal for the position in perpetuity and delivers a lower-cost Net buy than its competitors in the consumer-electronics sector.
Other pluses: Samsung has an ad and product-placement tie-in with this summer's blockbuster film, The Fantastic Four, and this fall Samsung will act as the primary marketing partner in launching a CD from legendary rock band The Who.