Rita Clifton

Former CEO of Interbrand, Brand Guru and Author

Rita Clifton has been called ‘The doyenne of branding’ by Campaign magazine, ‘Brand guru’ by the Financial Times, and the Daily Telegraph described her as ‘The Brand Leading the Brands’. She is one of the world’s leading experts on brands and branding, and is a speaker, facilitator, writer, business leader and portfolio director.

Biography

Rita Clifton CBE has been called ‘Brand guru’ by the Financial Times and ‘The doyenne of branding’ by Campaign magazine. Alongside her board chairing and non-executive roles, she is a writer, keynote speaker, conference chair & practitioner on all aspects of brands, branding and business leadership.

Her career has included being a Vice Chair and Strategy Director at Saatchi & Saatchi, as London CEO and Chair at the global brand consultancy Interbrand and as co-founder of BrandCap. She is now a portfolio chair and non-executive director on the board of businesses including Nationwide Building Society and Ascential plc. Previous boards have included ASOS, Dixons Retail plc, Emap, Bupa and Populus Group.

Her non-profit boards have included WWF (Worldwide Fund for Nature), the UK Sustainable Development Commission and Green Alliance.

 She was recently appointed Chair at Forum for the Future, the leading international sustainability organisation.

Rita is a regular columnist and media commentator, as well as author of ‘The Future of Brands’ and two editions of The Economist book ‘Brands and Branding’. Her new book on leadership ‘Love your imposter’ was launched by Kogan Page in September 2020. Her writing has also included the best selling book ‘The Future of Brands’, and two editions of The Economist book ‘Brands & Branding’. Rita recently wrote in Management Today about how Covid might actually help us all collaborate around the climate emergency.

Topics

You may want to go deeper into a topic for your audience. The keynote topics can be tailored and developed to suit your audience needs, be it a 90-minute Masterclass, a half-day or full-day workshop or a full online or face-to-face programme. Please contact one of our expert team to discuss.

Rita talks about the new and developing business context, the authentic qualities needed from today and tomorrow’s leaders, and gives very practical, actionable advice on how individuals and organisations can be the best they can be to succeed – flaws and all. Audiences will come away inspired and with tools and techniques to make the very most of themselves and their organisations.

Sessions available virtually or in person

  • One hour (incl speech/presentation with Q&A)
  • Two and a half hour/half day (incl speech/presentation, with working session, plenary or breakouts)

Videos

Resources

Books

Testimonials

“Warm, funny and wise…” Hillary Clinton
“Brand guru” – Financial Times
“The Brand leading the brands” – Daily Telegraph
“The doyenne of branding” – Campaign magazine
“If brand management were a religion, Rita Clifton would be a deity” – Time magazine
– “A fabulous ambassador for business” Retail Week
– “So insightful and fresh” Google
– “Rita has always been a great champion for helping people be their best selves, professionally and personally…. She is funny, insightful, practical and inspiring”. Nicola Mendelsohn CBE, VP EMEA, Facebook

Some comments on Rita’s public speaking:

“Thoughtful and inspiring” – Pearson management conference
“..the highlight of the conference” – Marketing Society
“..the number one star of the day..authoritative..inspirational…thought provoking..brilliant” – Century Communications 
“Excellent chairing” – British Brands Group
“A tour de force” – BUPA Business Forum
” ..interesting, informative, stimulating…convincing” – CBI
“..brilliant moderating..” – International Herald Tribune
“Fascinating and thought provoking” – BT Insight Briefing
“Witty and inspiring” – ESOMAR
“A complete star..brilliant presentation” – Rothschild Business Conference

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