The market research firm revealed yesterday that the other six on the list of the most influential brands in Thailand were Samsung, YouTube, Apple, Microsoft, AIS (Advanced Info Service) and True, in that order.

“The results are a spectacular confirmation of the growing role of digital and mobile [technology] in Thai people’s lives. Nine of the 10 most influent brands belong to this industry sector. The top leader is now Google, [which] has overtaken Facebook,” said Jerome Hervio, managing director of Ipsos in Thailand.

He said Line was making a strong entry as No 3, while the country’s leading convenience-store chain 7-Eleven was the only non-high-tech company in the top 10, and had managed its high ranking through a large presence.

The Ipsos survey employed online interviews with a nationwide sample of 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 55. Similar surveys were conducted in 20 other countries, yielding a combined sample of 36,600 respondents worldwide.

Each respondent was randomly allocated 10 brands from a list of 100 to evaluate on a number of key metrics and statements. Each country’s data were weighted back to census population.

The study was conducted last December. It measured the overall impact of brands based on five key factors – engagement, leading edge, presence (saliency), trustworthiness, and corporate citizenship or social responsibility – and varied from country to country.

With a strong presence in 87 countries, Ipsos currently employs more than 16,000 people and has the ability to conduct research programmes in more than 100 countries. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is controlled and managed by research professionals.