Having worked for London marketing agencies and brands such as Demon Internet, Sony Ericsson and Jammie Dodgers, Russ, who lives in Haywards Heath, set up Ascension Consulting in 2003 with his business partner Ben Cocke.

Since then they have consulted for HSBC, Manchester Business School and the Home Office, among others. The company has bases in London and Sussex.

To become eligible for a Fellowship, candidates must have either a proven record of expertise and strategic responsibility at director level for more than three years or have run their own consultancy for a minimum of five years with a client base of high profile companies. They must also meet stringent academic qualifications.

Commenting on the award, Russ said: "I am very honoured to join such an illustrious group of marketing practitioners. My father and brother are both marketers, so you could say it's in the genes."

Russ, a graduate of Middlesex Business School, holds post graduate diplomas in marketing, PR and market research.

He began his career in the late 1980s, working for American Express in Burgess Hill.