LONDON, February 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft has knocked Google off the top spot in the eighth annual Top 500 Business Superbrands survey, launched today. Google, which ranked first in 2008 and 2009, slips down to 5th place, whilst Microsoft enjoys the number 1 slot having been 2nd in 2007 and 2008, and 5th in 2009.

The annual survey is compiled by The Centre for Brand Analysis (TCBA), on behalf of the Superbrands organisation, and examines the views of a panel of Experts and over 1,700 UK business professionals.

New entries into the top 10 are: BlackBerry, rising from last year's 42nd; Visa (2009: 14th) and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (2009: 17th). The top 10 also welcomes back British Airways (BA), which bounced back into 8th place from its worst position last year (36th) but putting a dampener on BA's improvement is Virgin Atlantic, which is new into the top 10 in 4th position.

Stephen Cheliotis, CEO, TCBA said: Once again Microsoft and Google have proved their potency by fighting it out for the top spots, whilst many other brands have reaffirmed their consistent performance year on year. The financial services sector however has seen mixed results with the investment banks particularly losing ground over the year, whilst The Co-operative Bank and its ethically focused strategy and co-operative structure powers forward climbing 91 places.

2010 Top 10 Rank 2009 Top 10 MICROSOFT 1 GOOGLE ROLLS-ROYCE GROUP 2 ROLLS-ROYCE GROUP BLACKBERRY 3 SONY VIRGIN ATLANTIC 4 MICROSOFT GOOGLE 5 NOKIA LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE 6 GLAXOSMITHKLINE GLAXOSMITHKLINE 7 LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE BRITISH AIRWAYS 8 MICHELIN VISA 9 BP PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS 10 BUPA

The list of the top 10 biggest fallers features four banks, including UBS and Morgan Stanley, whilst the Royal Bank of Scotland has crashed out of the top 500 altogether and lost its Business Superbrands status for the first time.

Proving that a re-brand can have a positive affect Aviva, the re-branded Norwich Union, is the second highest riser in the top 500 climbing from 315th to 144th. The biggest year-on-year riser is Premier Inn, which has jumped a significant 197 places to sit at 240th. Other fast risers include DHL, BDO the accountancy firm, and trade media title, Management Today.

More information, full press-release: Amanda Harrison +44(0)1296-660-294 Interviews: stephen.cheliotis@tcba.co.uk +44(0)20-7079-3317/ +44(0)7773-396-784

SOURCE: The Centre for Brand Analysis

CONTACT: More information, full press-release: Amanda Harrison+44(0)1296-660-294; Interviews: stephen.cheliotis@tcba.co.uk,+44(0)20-7079-3317/ +44(0)7773-396-784