Jony Ive makes list of influential tech execs, Apple retakes top spot in brand rankings
On Wednesday Apple's newly-minted Chief Design Officer, Jony Ive, came second to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on a Juniper Research list of the most influential technology executives in 2015, while Apple as a whole reclaimed the top spot on a Millward Brown chart of the world's most valuable brands.

Jony Ive. | Source: Sotheby's
The Juniper rankings are based on subjective criteria such as vision, innovation, and personal capital. Ive's position on the list is connected to the Apple Watch, which Juniper said will be a benchmark for smartwatches. Ive is also noted to have set "very strict" guidelines for Watch app design, conformed to the device's shape and the "glance habit it engenders."
Nadella took the top position on the list for making a "fundamental change" to Microsoft's business model, transforming Windows into more of a service. The approach should result in a different development process at the company, Juniper said.
Other executives in the top 10 include: Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Alibaba chairman Jack Ma, Google ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects) director Paul Eremenko, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun.
Notably absent from the top 10 is Apple CEO Tim Cook, who is frequently cited in other lists of influential leaders and executives. Ive though has been considered extremely important to Apple, responsible for the core designs of products like the iPhone and iPad.
His promotion to Chief Design Officer will actually pull him away from direct involvement with product design. Although he will retain leadership in that area, he will also be tasked with overseeing things like construction projects. Filling in the gaps will be Richard Howarth -- assuming control of industrial design -- and Alan Dye, now in charge of user interface design.
Millward Brown reproted that Apple regained control of its BrandZ chart (PDF) from Google via a 67 percent jump year-over-year, putting its estimated brand value at about $247 billion. The increase is linked mostly to the success of the iPhone 6, but also to offerings like the Apple Watch, HealthKit, and Apple Pay.
Google's value also increased in 2015, but only 9 percent to $173.7 billion. Microsoft advanced 28 percent to $115.5 billion, putting it in third place.
Apple's BrandZ value has grown the most among any company in the last 10 years, by 1,446 percent. Millward Brown bases its rankings on the opinions of 3 million people spread across 50 countries.

Jony Ive. | Source: Sotheby's
The Juniper rankings are based on subjective criteria such as vision, innovation, and personal capital. Ive's position on the list is connected to the Apple Watch, which Juniper said will be a benchmark for smartwatches. Ive is also noted to have set "very strict" guidelines for Watch app design, conformed to the device's shape and the "glance habit it engenders."
Nadella took the top position on the list for making a "fundamental change" to Microsoft's business model, transforming Windows into more of a service. The approach should result in a different development process at the company, Juniper said.
Other executives in the top 10 include: Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Alibaba chairman Jack Ma, Google ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects) director Paul Eremenko, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun.
Notably absent from the top 10 is Apple CEO Tim Cook, who is frequently cited in other lists of influential leaders and executives. Ive though has been considered extremely important to Apple, responsible for the core designs of products like the iPhone and iPad.
His promotion to Chief Design Officer will actually pull him away from direct involvement with product design. Although he will retain leadership in that area, he will also be tasked with overseeing things like construction projects. Filling in the gaps will be Richard Howarth -- assuming control of industrial design -- and Alan Dye, now in charge of user interface design.
Millward Brown reproted that Apple regained control of its BrandZ chart (PDF) from Google via a 67 percent jump year-over-year, putting its estimated brand value at about $247 billion. The increase is linked mostly to the success of the iPhone 6, but also to offerings like the Apple Watch, HealthKit, and Apple Pay.
Google's value also increased in 2015, but only 9 percent to $173.7 billion. Microsoft advanced 28 percent to $115.5 billion, putting it in third place.
Apple's BrandZ value has grown the most among any company in the last 10 years, by 1,446 percent. Millward Brown bases its rankings on the opinions of 3 million people spread across 50 countries.
Comments
My thought is that Tim believes what Steve said, "A great product is its own reward."
With a few personal causes the exception (where he exerts influence), I think Tim is happy to sit back with a quiet smile and let the products be influential.
The reality is the iPhone 6 and careful supply chain management have done more to damage Samsung than any lawsuit ever could, at least from a business standpoint.
Well Microsoft is sort of taking over Android by bundling Microsoft apps with new Android tablets. So there's that...
How about this for brand value...Ask 10 random people who Satya Nadella is, then ask them who Jony Ive is. Most people have never heard of Nadella because he hasn't done anything significant.
That Brand chart is really silly. I haven't taken the time to see exactly what BS this guy is peddling, but AT&T has to be one of the most despised brands out there. And I would argue that even if you are a BIG brand (measured by employee count and earnings and exposure), if everyone hates you, you are not all that valuable as people are simply waiting to get around your position in the market.
All that matters is he's not Steve Ballmer.
http://www.cio.com/article/2926833/apple-os/jony-ive-prepares-to-retire-from-apple.html
Ok this makes zero sense to me. Why would Apple allow the New Yorker to have unprecedented access to Ive along with a 20 page profile entitled: Jony Ive and the Future of Apple if he had one foot out the door? Why would Cook create (and the board approve) a new C-level position (the only other C-level position outside of CEO and CFO) for someone with one foot out the door? Why would Cook say Ive will own all design and work on future initiatives if he had one foot out the door?
When Bob Mansfield signaled he was ready for a reduced role (he did retire at one point) Cook didn't give him a promotion, he was taken off the leadership page. If anything this promotion signals to me Ive is more powerful than ever and Cook doesn't want to lose him to retirement (or burnout).
Most people don't know who Jony Ive is either. My former roommate just got a job as a Apple rep inside the Best Buy. I asked him who Ive was and he had no clue. I asked him that because I knew he didn't know and knows very little about Apple as a whole. He even had a Samsung Galaxy S5.
they'll have taken over Android when they take it over. hasn't happened yet.
further, iOS is still more influential to the world than Android is, especially since Android itself is a copy of iOS.
I see another article out there claiming Ive's promotion means he's close to retirement.
http://www.cio.com/article/2926833/apple-os/jony-ive-prepares-to-retire-from-apple.html
Ok this makes zero sense to me. Why would Apple allow the New Yorker to have unprecedented access to Ive along with a 20 page profile entitled: Jony Ive and the Future of Apple if he had one foot out the door? Why would Cook create (and the board approve) a new C-level position (the only other C-level position outside of CEO and CFO) for someone with one foot out the door? Why would Cook say Ive will own all design and work on future initiatives if he had one foot out the door?
When Bob Mansfield signaled he was ready for a reduced role (he did retire at one point) Cook didn't give him a promotion, he was taken off the leadership page. If anything this promotion signals to me Ive is more powerful than ever and Cook doesn't want to lose him to retirement (or burnout).
Yeah, that is absolute BS.
total utter BS that a Microsoft Executive is ranked higher than all Apple execs.
total and utter BS. All he did was change office to a subscription product, which every single OTHER software company did YEARS AGO.
Well, because Satya can say things influential to women which make up more than 50% of the world population that Jony can't: "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella: women, don't ask for a raise"
No Samsung in either top 10 list? Haha
In fact, they're #45.
How about this for brand value...Ask 10 random people who Satya Nadella is, then ask them who Jony Ive is. Most people have never heard of Nadella because he hasn't done anything significant.
"Women, don't ask for a raise" is significant.
Most people don't know who Jony Ive is either. My former roommate just got a job as a Apple rep inside the Best Buy. I asked him who Ive was and he had no clue. I asked him that because I knew he didn't know and knows very little about Apple as a whole. He even had a Samsung Galaxy S5.
Your friend probably doesn't even know who Tim Cooks is. Your friend is irrelevant.
Agreed. Tim doesn't seem to have a bloated ego like pretty much every CEO on the planet.
I see another article out there claiming Ive's promotion means he's close to retirement.
Could be that Ive is focused on the car - that cannot be a small undertaking.