Douglas B. Holt is a renowned marketing expert and former professor at Harvard Business School and the University of Oxford. He is best known for his groundbreaking work on cultural branding and iconic brands. Holt's research focuses on how brands can achieve cultural resonance and become powerful symbols in society. He developed the concept of "cultural branding" through extensive historical analyses of successful iconic brands like Coca-Cola, Nike, and Budweiser.

Holt's book "How Brands Become Icons: The Principles of Cultural Branding" presents the first systematic model explaining how brands attain iconic status. In it, he argues that iconic brands create "identity myths" that address collective anxieties resulting from social change. Holt challenges conventional branding strategies, advocating for a deeper cultural perspective on marketing themes.

As a consultant, Holt has advised Fortune 500 companies on building iconic brands. He is the founder of the Cultural Strategy Group, a consulting firm that helps organizations leverage cultural branding principles. Holt received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and has published extensively in leading academic journals. He currently resides in Paris, where he continues to research and write about branding and consumer culture.