Simon Anholt

Simon Anholt is an independent policy advisor who has worked to help develop and implement strategies for enhanced economic, political and cultural engagement with other countries.

These strategies are typically in the areas of national identity and reputation, public diplomacy, cultural policy and cultural relations, regional integration, immigration and related areas of social policy, sustainability, educational policy, trade, export promotion, tourism, security and defence, foreign direct investment, talent attraction and major international events.

He is the founder of the Good Country Index which measures what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity, and what it takes away, relative to its size. The Netherlands came top of the Good Country Index third edition in 2017.

Anholt has been called the "founder", "champion" and "instigator" of the Nation Brands and Place Brands terms and field of study and practice.

He is the founder and publisher of the global annual research studies: Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index, Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands Index and Anholt-GfK Roper State Brands Index, three major surveys which use a panel of 30,000 people in 25 countries to monitor global perceptions of 50 countries, 50 cities and the 52 States of the Union.

He is the author of the book Another One Bites The Grass, and of "Brand New Justice" covering the role of companies in economic development, first published in 2003. His more recent books include the best seller Brand America, (Cyan Books 2004 and 2009); Competitive Identity (Palgrave Macmillan 2007); and Places (Palgrave Macmillan 2010).