Quentin Griffiths, the British entrepreneur who co founded online fashion retailer ASOS, has died after falling from a balcony in Thailand, according to Thai police.
Authorities said the 58 year old fell from the 17th floor of an apartment building in Pattaya on February 9. Police responding to the scene found the body of a British national identified as Quentin John Griffiths on the ground below the balcony.
Initial investigations suggest suicide, with no immediate indications of foul play. Police said CCTV footage showed no evidence of anyone entering his apartment, where he reportedly lived alone. His body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Investigators also cited information from a Thai friend who said Griffiths had been concerned about legal disputes involving his former wife, a Thai national. Documents related to lawsuits were reportedly found inside the apartment.
Britain’s Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting the family of a British national who died in Thailand and is in contact with local authorities.
Griffiths co founded ASOS in 2000 alongside Nick Robertson. Originally named As Seen on Screen, the company was launched during the height of the dot com era and listed on London’s Alternative Investment Market in 2001. Despite the collapse of many early internet retailers after the tech bubble burst, ASOS emerged as one of the United Kingdom’s most successful online fashion brands.
The retailer expanded rapidly across international markets and became known for its own label products as well as third party fashion offerings. Griffiths served as marketing director before leaving the company in 2004, though he remained a significant shareholder for several years.
In recent years, ASOS has faced profitability challenges amid rising costs and growing competition from lower priced global rivals.
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