David is the CEO and founder of Brand Finance plc, the leading independent brand valuation consultancy. David qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in London. He has worked in the area of branded business, brand and intangible asset valuation since 1991 and since January 1995 has specialised entirely in this area. David has represented the British Standards institute on the International Standards Committee working party on the standardisation of brand valuation methods and practices, whose standard (ISO 10668) is due to be published in early 2010.

David is a passionate writer and has written many articles for the marketing and financial press on branded businesses and brand valuation and is the author of numerous publications. He also lectures on the subject of branded business, brand and intangible asset valuation at many of the leading business schools around the world.

Visit website

David helps companies understand how their brands can achieve greater clarity and relevance to their customers. In a broad career that has encompassed advertising, brand and design strategy, he has worked with a range of clients in the global financial and public sectors to maximize their message.  He advised Travelex in its takeover of Thomas Cook FE, Liverpool Victoria in consolidating its Membership status and is currently working with the brand positioning of Legal & General. Last year he guided the Department of Health in its communications for the Swine Flu awareness campaign.

Ardi Kolah is the Head of Public Relations at Brit insurance, an international general insurance and reinsurance group specialising in commercial insurance. His career in marketing and communications spans 20 years and includes working with the BBC, Accenture, CMG plc, Disney, QBE, Cranfield University, WPP and many others. A prolific author, he’s written some of the leading works on PR and marketing related disciplines including law, sponsorship and licensing. He’s also chaired the Marketing Excellence category for the National Business Awards which took place today! He’s a law graduate of King’s College London and a Fellow of several institutes including the CIM and CIPR and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors in the City of London.

Ellie Mickleburgh is Head of Global Marketing Strategy at Aviva plc. With over 12 years marketing experience across the financial services and travel/leisure industries, Ellie has worked with high profile brands such as Marriott International, TUI and most recently Aviva, where she has worked in the UK, across  Europe and now globally. She is an experienced marketeer with a Marketing honours degree from Lancaster University Business School and a post graduate diploma from Kingston University in Management Studies.

Ellie’s broad marketing skills have enabled her to deliver strategic marketing solutions in a wide range of cultural and business environments. She was the European coordinator on the Aviva Brand name change across Poland and Ireland, has launched insurance category products in Aviva UK and Aviva Europe and has led on marketing data projects in the Aviva UK business. She is now responsible for developing and coordinating an effective global marketing and communication strategy which leverages the Aviva brand promise ‘No-one recognises you like Aviva’ and moves the business towards being the most recommended brand in the industry.

Ellie lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and young daughter. Outside work, her greatest achievement has been completing the ‘3 Peaks 24hr challenge’  for charity twice and she recently volunteered her marketing skills to a shelter charity, the 999 Club.

Geoff Towers was told by his first manager to learn the investment industry before offering advice. Consequently he has worked as a salesman, a trader and a fund manager, before becoming Citibank Asset Management’s operations head, running Barclays International Funds Group, and moving on to be CEO of Standard Life's wrap and platform business. He is now MD, Platforms and Distribution for Legal & General.

Geoff’s great interest is understanding and closing the gap between what our customers want and what the industry can provide. So despite experience from five continents, he is still learning - although that doesn’t stop him offering advice.