BIOGRAPHY

Rita Clifton is President of the Market Research Society and the former Chair of Interbrand, the leading agency which also compiles the highly respected 'Best Global Brands' list.

Originally Executive Planning Director and Vice Chairman at Saatchi & Saatchi, she has since pioneered work on internal brand management, digital branding and 'brand futures' for clients including eBay, BMW, McDonalds and Samsung.

In a nutshell, Rita defines a brand as an 'organising idea to set you apart from the competition.' It's about having strong values and ethics, communicating and living up to them - especially in a digital world where mistakes are never laid to rest. Above all, if you don't have trust, you can't have a brand.

Rita is author of The Future of Brands and The Economist book Brands and Branding. She is a regular media commentator on brands and marketing, including pieces for The Financial Times and Marketing Week. Voted a Woman of Achievement by industry peers, she has also chaired an opinion polling company, lectured at Henley Management College and served as a non-Executive Director of the Dixon's Group, Bupa and Emap.

Rita Clifton is a member of the Government's Sustainable Development Commission, and sits on the advisory board of BP's 'Target-Neutral' carbon offset programme. She is regular contributor in the mainstream media, particularly on Radio 4, Sky, Channel 4 and BBC TV.

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