SAUDI Telecom Company (STC) ranks once again as one of the 500 most valuable brands in the world according to the Global 500 2015 report by Brand Finance, the leading independent brand valuation consultancy. The only Saudi company featured in the report, STC is rated the 240th most valuable brand, around the globe, up by 30 ranks from the year previous. The telecom giant's brand value has in 2014 increased by 14%, to reach $5.695 billion, or approximately SR21.36 billion. STC's remains the most valuable regional brand in the telecommunication sector. “Brand values reflect organizational performance,” said Khaled Al-Biyari, the CEO of STC. “The new ranking confirms STC's global leadership, being the preferred telecommunication provider for millions of customers worldwide.” Brand Finance deems STC's brand to be “very strong.” The ranking is based on a number of quantifiable attributes, such as a company's financial performance and sustainability, as well as stakeholders' emotional connection to the brand. The latter is defined as the “names, terms, symbols, logos and designs” that identify goods, services, and entities. “We are committed to maintaining our stakeholders' trust for the years to come, through constantly enhancing our workflow, products, and services, and through devising innovative telecommunication solutions that exceed customers' expectations,” Al-Biyari added. The result builds on a previous achievement of STC where it ranked as the top brand in Asia for the fourth quarter of 2013. — SG
