A prestigious organisation established by royal charter has paid tribute to a former employee found dead on Hampstead Heath.

John Poile, 49, of Holloway, was an art director at the Institute of Directors, which represents company directors and was founded in 1906.

His body was discovered by a dog walker between the mixed bathing ponds and Parliament Hill at just before 2.30pm on Thursday April 11.

A spokesman for the Institute of Directors (IoD) said: “We were deeply saddened to learn that John Poile passed away. John worked for the IoD for 15 years and made many good friends here in that time.”

The death is not being treated as suspicious. An inquest was opened and adjourned last week.