Congratulations to Ron Dennis

Over 900 marketers watched him collect his award from our president, Martin Glenn, CEO of the Football Association at Supernova, on London's embankment in an evening to celebrate the marketing industry.

He said: 'Leadership is something that's impossible without the people who believe in you and follow you. I'm privileged to have an unbelievable team of people. This award is for all those people who have followed me and put up with my 24/7 approach to life and all those who have put up with my obsessiveness and my attention to detail.'

'Our identity of purpose was traditionally easy as an F1 business, it was about winning the race. Now, as we diversify the quest to prevail is less about crossing the line and more about being first to market, the most innovative and with the best products. I firmly believe that without a singular, clear purpose for the brand, marketing becomes an expensive folly.'

Earlier in the day, Ron had spoken at our Annual Conference in the BFI, telling the audience, 'You don't expect to be at the top of the mountain the day you start climbing. I don't think I've done a day's work in my life because I love what I do. I will die ambitious. If I come close to fulfilling one goal there's always two or three more. To say that we want to win is an understatement, we want to win in everything we do.'

Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of The Formula One Group was just one of the leaders paying tribute to Ron Dennis. 'There is no limit to what he'll achieve,' he said, via a video interview. 'The Mclaren he's built is impressive. His obsessive creation and protection of the brand and attention to detail is world class.'

Watch Ron Dennis's conversation with broadcaster Emily Maitlis from our Annual Conference here.