Tencent boss SY Lau has been named as the Cannes Lions 2015 Media Person of the Year, the first time a Chinese executive has won the award.

Lau, senior executive vice president at Tencent Online Media Group, is credited with transforming the Chinese internet giant into the country’s “successful integrated online media” business.

Previous winners of the award include Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, HBO chief executive Richard Plepler and Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt.

According to Cannes Lions chairman Terry Savage, Lau has been instrumental in “setting a new industry standard” and changing the way Chinese consumers utilise media.

“I am humbled and delighted to receive the prestigious Cannes Lions Media Person of the Year Award,” said SY Lau. “This award not only demonstrates the success of Tencent OMG, but also highlights the rise of China as a global force for online innovation, creativity and for the highest quality content.

“Tencent’s vision is to connect everything. I am convinced that the media is a critical part of this strategy. In addition to provide information, the media will be platform for people to communicate and interact with people, services and hardware surrounded. Tencent OMG stands proudly at the forefront of this movement.”

Last week, Tencent was named as the most valuable Chinese brand for the first time, according to brand valuation poll BrandZ.