A British snowboarder who plunged 100 feet to his death while on a family holiday in the French Alps was a “visionary” entrepreneur and former banker.
City executive Stuart Thurlow, 50, was off-piste near the resort of Avoriaz when he fell from a rocky ledge.
He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Friday.
Mr Thurlow, a senior project manager in HSBC’s global banking and markets division, was on holiday with his wife, Sarah, and teenage son when the accident happened.
Hs friend and business partner, Earl Verdant, said Mr Thurlow, from Chislehurst in south-east London, was “loved by everyone”.
He said: “Stuart was full of life, he was someone who always saw the glass half full. He was a great bloke – friendly, engaging, sharp.
“I knew him for 32 years and it is a massive loss. Stuart was loved by everyone, he was so full of energy and life.”
The 50-year-old added: “The accident is a massive shock, and still so raw. I keep expecting him to phone up or walk through the door.
“We have been through going to raves in the 80s and 90s, to him getting married and having his son, and everything in between. It is not easy.”
The pair were business partners who set up an artificial intelligence company along with two other partners in 2016.
Chelsea fan Mr Thurlow was a keen hiker and winter sports enthusiast, as well as a mountain biker and BMX rider.
His death came just weeks after the family had visited the same resort for a half-term snow break in February.
Mr Verdant added: “I am devastated for his wife and son. He doted on his son and took him all around the world. They were due to go to Whistler in Canada for some downhill riding this year.”
Mr Thurlow, who was educated at the independent Colfe School in Lee, began his career at the London Stock Exchange and spent more than 21 years working at Citi bank before joining HSBC in 2016.
Another friend and business partner, Kamrul Islam, said: “Stuart was a dreamer and a visionary. Stuart saw value and potential where no one else did.
“He was a mentor and most importantly, an amazing role model. He was a teacher, a leader and most of all, a beloved friend. Stuart will remain forever in our hearts.”
