ASOS co-founder Quentin Griffiths dies after falling from 17th floor in Thailand

Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of British fast-fashion retailer ASOS, has died after falling from the 17th floor of an apartment building in Thailand, as per police reports on Friday. 

Thai police said the 58-year-old co-founder fell from a balcony of an 18-storey residential building in the seaside resort city of Pattaya on February 9. His body was discovered on the ground.

Officials reportedly stated that the British passport holder had been alone in the apartment, which was locked from the inside, with no signs of forced entry. CCTV footage showed no one entering the room, and a post-mortem examination found no evidence of foul play. Police said initial findings indicated suicide.

As per reports, the documents relating to ongoing legal disputes were found in the apartment. A Thai friend informed officers that Griffiths had been concerned about legal issues involving his former wife, a Thai national.

According to media reports, Griffiths had been separated from his second wife, who accused him of misappropriating more than $673,000 from a business they operated together. He was reportedly arrested last year after allegations that he forged documents to sell land shares without her knowledge. He was later released, but the investigation was said to be continuing at the time of his death.

An ASOS spokesperson said the company was “saddened to hear about the passing of Quentin, one of our original co-founders”, adding that he had played a significant role in the firm’s early growth.

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said British authorities were assisting the family and were in contact with local officials.

Griffiths co-founded ASOS in London in 2000 alongside Nick Robertson, Andrew Regan and Deborah Thorpe. Originally launched as ‘As Seen On Screen’, the company sold fashion inspired by outfits worn by film and television stars before rebranding as ASOS in 2002.

The business went on to become a global online fashion marketplace, stocking hundreds of brands in addition to its own labels. At its peak, ASOS was valued at more than $8 billion, with its designs worn by public figures including Catherine, Princess of Wales and Michelle Obama.

Griffiths served as marketing director before leaving the company in 2004, though he remained a significant shareholder for several years.