Asos Co-Founder Quentin Griffiths Dies in Thailand Fall, Police Rule Out Foul Play
Quentin Griffiths, who co-founded online fashion retailer Asos in 2000, died on February 9, 2026, after falling from an 18th-floor condominium in Pattaya, Thailand, according to Thai police. He was found dead on the ground after the incident at the seaside town east of Bangkok.
The death of Griffiths, a British passport holder, removes one of the original architects of what became one of the UK's most prominent e-commerce success stories. He left Asos in 2005 but remained a significant shareholder in the company, maintaining a financial stake in the business he helped build during the early days of online retail.
Thai police investigators told the BBC that Griffiths was alone in his room at the time of the fall. The room was locked from the inside with no evidence of forced entry, and an autopsy revealed no signs of foul play. Police were called to the scene last Monday night after receiving an alert about the incident.
Investigators noted that Griffiths was involved in two ongoing court cases that may have been causing him stress, though they did not provide details about the nature of those legal proceedings.
Griffiths's role in founding Asos came during a pivotal moment in retail history, as the internet began reshaping how consumers shopped for clothing. The company, which started as "As Seen On Screen," capitalized on the shift to online shopping and grew into a major player in the fast-fashion market. His departure in 2005 came during the company's early growth phase, years before it would expand internationally and face the challenges that have marked its more recent history.
For finance leaders tracking the e-commerce sector, Griffiths's death is a reminder of the human stories behind corporate founding narratives. The fact that he maintained his shareholding after leaving operational duties reflects a common pattern among early-stage founders who build significant personal wealth through equity stakes, even after stepping away from day-to-day management.
The circumstances surrounding his death—alone in a foreign country while facing legal pressures—underscore the personal toll that can accompany business success and the legal complexities that often follow entrepreneurs long after they've left their companies.
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