Quentin Griffiths, the co-founder of online fashion retailer Asos, has died after falling from an 18-storey condominium in the Thai seaside city of Pattaya. Police reported that the 58-year-old British entrepreneur fell from the 17th floor on 9 February.
Initial police investigations suggest suicide, with no signs of foul play. CCTV footage showed no one entering his apartment, where he lived alone. His body has been sent for an autopsy. Police also noted that a Thai friend said Griffiths had been worried about lawsuits from his former wife, a Thai national, and related documents were found in his apartment.
Griffiths co-founded Asos in London in 2000 with Nick Robertson. The company, originally named As Seen on Screen, became a global online fashion giant, with designs worn by celebrities like Rihanna and Michelle Obama. Griffiths left Asos in 2005 but remained a major shareholder for nearly a decade.
After Asos, Griffiths co-founded several ventures, including online furniture store Achica, music-focused fashion retailer EBTM, and ethical clothing website Adili. EBTM later went into administration, and Adili was sold for a nominal £1.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting the family of a British national who died in Thailand and is in contact with local authorities. Asos expressed sadness at Griffiths' passing, acknowledging his important role in the company's early days.
