Quentin Griffiths, a co-founder of the online fashion retailer ASOS, has died after falling from a 17th-floor apartment in Pattaya, Thailand, on February 9, according to Thai police. He was 58.
Police confirmed Griffiths, a British passport holder, was found on the ground outside a luxury hotel where he had been a long-term resident. Initial investigations indicate no signs of foul play, with the apartment locked from the inside and no evidence of forced entry, authorities stated.
“We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities,” a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said.
Griffiths co-founded ASOS in 2000, originally known as “As Seen on Screen,” alongside Nick Robertson and Andrew Regan. The company rapidly grew from an online start-up selling fashion inspired by television and film to a global retailer valued at £3 billion. He left the firm five years later but remained a significant shareholder.
“We’re saddened to hear about the passing of Quentin, one of our original co-founders,” an ASOS spokesperson said. “He played an important role in ASOS’s earliest days and we’re forever grateful for his contribution. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Thai police indicated that Griffiths was involved in two ongoing court cases that may have contributed to stress. He was reportedly separated from his second wife, a Thai national, and engaged in a legal dispute with her over a jointly-run business. A Thai friend of Griffiths reportedly told police he had expressed concerns about these lawsuits, and related documents were found in his apartment.
Griffiths made substantial financial gains from ASOS, selling shares in 2010 for around £15 million and receiving further stock windfalls in 2013. He also co-founded the online retailer Achica and was involved in legal disputes related to tax liabilities stemming from the sale of shares in both companies.
An autopsy has been conducted, but the exact cause of death is still under investigation. CCTV footage showed no one entering his apartment, according to police.
