Heads resign from Royal Academy

The Royal Academy of Arts' Museum of Mankind in London

The secretary of fine arts institution the Royal Academy of Arts has resigned, after the departure of two high-profile members including its president.

Lawton Fitt, the first woman to become the academy's most senior official, gave no reason for her decision.

President Philip King resigned last month and Professor Brendan Neiland, the keeper of the Royal Academy Schools accounts, left in August.

On Monday the academy announced it would examine the way the body was run.

Crisis denied

Sir David Rowland will chair a panel of Royal Academy members, scholars and business leaders in reviewing the governance of the 236-year-old London institution.

Miss Fitt's resignation came after her predecessor David Gordon told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that the academy was "in crisis" due to the "absence of long-term planning".

Professor Neiland left the academy in the summer after it was discovered he had set up an unauthorised £80,000 bank account.

An academy spokeswoman denied there was a crisis at the institution, and said Miss Fitt and Mr King's resignations were unrelated.

Academy members are due to appoint a new president on 14 December.