Giles Pooley vanished from his home in the Catalan city in March 2023, sparking an online campaign by friends and organisations including charity LBT Global for information on his whereabouts
Police have confirmed a Bafta-winning missing British businessman has been found dead in Barcelona.
Digital producer Giles Pooley vanished from his home in the Catalan city in March 2023, sparking an online campaign by friends and organisations including charity LBT Global for information on his whereabouts. It has now emerged DNA tests have confirmed a body found at the end of last year in Montjuic is that of the missing Brit.
Catalan press which had reported on the mystery disappearance said earlier this week police had made the positive match after further scientific analysis, although Giles’ relatives and pals had already taken to social media to pay tribute to him.
His death is not being treated as suspicious.
Giles described himself on an online profile as a “multi award-winning digital producer and product design lead with over twenty years of professional experience” who created interactive products for British TV broadcasters as well as cultural institutions across the globe.
He had last been seen on March 8 2023. His flatmate sounded the alarm when he got home and saw Giles’ beloved Husky dog Finn was alone. Friend Dan Cleland said two days later in a social media post: “My friend Giles has gone missing in Barcelona. He’s not responding on the phone.
“Local police are taking this very seriously. Please share this far and wide so Giles know his friends are looking for him and want him home safe.” In a long tribute before this week’s newspaper reports about the DNA match alongside photos of his pal, he said: “We’re still waiting to know fully what happened, but police have confirmed he’s gone. He overcame so much in life, reaching incredible highs, so I don’t want to focus on how he left us, I want to remember what he gave us.
“Giles was talented. He won a place at The Brit School, then launched himself into production in Soho across ads and promos. He landed a job at Sky Movies working his way up the world of digital media winning a Bafta for his work on Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather.”
Saying he had moved to Spain after more work in the UK’s broadcasting industry, he added: “Giles’ gregarious personality and smile made everyone adore him, always greeting you with a grin and massive bear hug. He was impressed by talent, constantly looking for ways to share that with the world, connecting friends with common purposes, setting up art expos for talented colleagues.
“He loved finding inspiring people and amplifying them for the entire world. Giles was hilarious. I never met anyone that I admired so much, that I could bicker for so long with, usually resulting in friends laughing at our shared silliness.”
“I’m holding all these wonderful memories close as we reckon with this loss. He’s left an indelible mark on my heart, and the world. It’ll be a quieter place without him, I know many people feel the same. Rest in power my beautiful, sensitive, brilliant friend. I will miss you and never forget you.”
Barcelona design agency LuzidLab, which Giles helped found, said in its own tribute: “Giles was such a vibrant, charismatic, and passionate person whose infectious energy touched everyone he met.
“After working in the UK’s broadcasting industry, he moved to Barcelona in 2012, bringing his creativity and drive with him. In 2021 we joined forces with an idea to create our own agency, working on projects we truly believed in. Giles had built an amazing network of people who were inspired to be part of our journey.
“Giles was committed to creating work that made a positive impact on society. This dedication led him to focus on projects centered around mental health. This was a cause that was close to his heart, as he silently struggled with his own challenges. His positive and lively exterior persona masked the true depth of these issues.
“Working with Giles was always fun, he inspired us to think big, dig deeper, and create work that we could all be proud of. His influence will remain with us, and we’ll carry his memory forward in everything we do. We hope our future projects reflect his spirit and make him proud.”