Brand rating firm Millward Brown Optimor on Monday said that Apple ended Google’s four year reign as the world’s most valuable brand.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]Apple grew 84 percent in the last year alone to take over the top spot. According to the study, Apple grew 859 percent since 2006. Apple’s value now stands at $153.3 billion.

In comparison, Google’s value in 2011 stands at $111.5 billion, down 2 percent from its 2010 ranking. IBM, who came in third on the list, rose 17 percent from 2010 to $100.1 billion in 2011.

Microsoft, the only other technology company in the top 10, rose 2 percent for a brand value of $78.2 billion in 2011.

“The importance of brand for global business success is becoming increasingly significant,” said David Roth at WPP, the parent company of Millward Brown Optimor. “In the last year, the global economy shifted from recovery to real growth, the combined value of all brands in the Top 100 ranking has risen by 64 percent since 2006 and is now worth $2.4 trillion. Strong brands, while not immune to the vicissitudes of the market, are more protected, prepared, resourceful and resilient.”