BUSINESS directors from across North Yorkshire gathered in York for a dinner at Ousefiled House Officers' Mess.

The home to offices of the 15 (North East) Brigade hosted The Institute of Directors North Yorkshire Dinner, with a sell-out attendance of more than 80 guests.

The event featured guest speaker Helen Normoyle, chief marketing officer for DFS, talked about the lessons she had learned during her marketing career.

Mrs Normoyle, who joined furniture retailer DFS from the BBC in 2012, told her audience that staying focused on the customer was all important and that striving for market share should not compromise that priority.

She went on to explain the DFS business model, saying that ‘work hard’ and ‘enjoy what you do’ were central to the Yorkshire-based company’s culture.

Ed Reid, chairman of the North Yorkshire branch of the IoD, said: "Helen has a huge breadth of marketing experience and it was good to hear her thoughts on the role of marketing in business and the marketing challenges facing companies."

The dinner formed part of York Business Week, which continues today with the York Press Business Awards tonight.