Brand Finance Global 500 Launch 2024 at Davos

Mike is a global authority on brand economics and valuation, with extensive experience of helping businesses grow by maximising the value creation potential of their brands.

He has over 20 years of experience across a wide range of branding challenges, leading assignments on brand-led growth, brand-related cost savings, brand-based negotiations and transactions, and expert witness work for disputes.

His experience of leading teams of analysts on the evaluation of brand strength and value for the world’s most valuable brands gives him unique insight into the factors that drive brand success globally.

Prior to joining Brand Finance, Mike was the global lead for the brand economics practice at Interbrand. He has a broad range of experience across many sectors, with clients including Allianz, AXA, British Gas, BUPA, Ericsson, Goldman Sachs, Hertz, Hyundai, Kia, Mastercard, Orange, PayPal, Samsung, Standard Chartered Bank, Virgin, among others.

Mike studied Economics at Cambridge University and is a Chartered Marketer and Chartered Accountant, having qualified with Arthur Andersen in London. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, ICAEW Valuation Group and Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Sumit heads marketing at Infosys and is responsible for realizing the Infosys brand ambitions globally. He joined Infosys in 2004 and has since held multiple strategic positions including the Head of Infosys Products & Platforms marketing as well as the Global Head of Corporate marketing. He champions marketing effectiveness and enjoys the challenge of building strong connects between marketing metrics and business outcomes. Sumit comes with over 19 years of experience in international marketing. Prior to joining Infosys, he has worked with Polaris Software and the Tata Group where he acquired his specialist skills in brand development, marketing communications and demand generation.

Jeff built his career as an expert and leader in intangible value mainly in varied industrial settings. Along the way he formed a close relationship with BrandFinance and co-founded BrandFinance Switzerland in the mid-2000’s before returning to a corporate career which put him at the forefront of understanding and implementing leadership in sustainability as a key component of intangible value.

Most recently as Corporate VP, Head of Sustainability at Royal DSM until 2023, Jeff fully embedded sustainability leadership into corporate strategy such that DSM become one of the top-5 stocks held in ESG funds and a leader on key ESG benchmarks. Notable achievements include leading the setting of a Science Based Target (first major chemical company to do so) and ensuring year-on-year delivery, achieving auditor Reasonable Assurance on all non-financial metrics and disclosure (one of the first companies to do so, requiring significant organizational change) and co-leading cross-company cultural transformation. During this time DSM achieved notable successes in generating financial value from sustainability leadership.

Jeff now owns Runkerry Consulting Ltd, focusing on advising companies and other organizations on the development and implementation of sustainability strategy and is currently the Senior Advisor – Pathways at WBCSD.

Heather Johnson is Vice President for Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility for the Ericsson Group worldwide and has worked for the Ericsson Group in Sweden for over 25 years. Since 2007 her work has focused exclusively on Ericsson’s sustainability and corporate responsibility efforts, which support the company vision of limitless connectivity improving lives, redefining business and pioneering a sustainable future.

These efforts are underpinned by sustainability and responsible business programs, practices and targets embedded across the company including Ericsson’s ambition to be Net-Zero across the value chain by 2040, human rights due diligence, health, safety and well-being programs, and robust ESG reporting to transparently communicate Ericsson’s progress in these areas.

Ms. Johnson’s focus is on advocating the role that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can play in addressing global sustainable development challenges in areas such as climate change, digital inclusion, education and humanitarian response, and the value this creates for stakeholders.

She manages relationships with the key sustainability stakeholders, including investors, UN and other international organizations, and multi-stakeholder partnerships including the World Economic Forum, Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, and the Giga initiative. Her portfolio includes Ericsson’s flagship Technology for Good programs, Connect to Learn and Ericsson Response.

Ms. Johnson holds a BA in History from Villanova University and an MBA from Santa Clara University. She is a dual-citizen of the United States and Ireland and resides in Stockholm, Sweden with her husband and their three children.