Quentin Griffiths, the co-founder of online fashion giant ASOS, has died after falling from an apartment balcony in Thailand. He was 58.
Thai police confirmed Mr Griffiths died on 9 February. According to reports, the door to the apartment was locked from the inside and an autopsy found no evidence of foul play.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Mr Griffiths launched ASOS — originally called As Seen On Screen — in 2000 alongside fellow entrepreneur Nick Robertson. The business initially sold clothing and accessories inspired by outfits worn in films and television programmes, before evolving into one of the world’s largest online fashion retailers.
Mr Griffiths left the company in 2005 but remained a significant shareholder. He is understood to have built much of his personal wealth through the sale of his ASOS shares in 2010. Under Mr Robertson’s leadership, ASOS grew rapidly into a global e-commerce force. Mr Robertson stepped down as chief executive in 2015 but remains on the board.
Following his departure from ASOS, Mr Griffiths co-founded Achica, a members-only private sales website specialising in fashion and lifestyle brands, which later became part of Brandalley.
In recent years, he had been involved in a number of legal disputes. These included a claim against accountants BDO, alleging he had received incorrect tax advice relating to the sale of his ASOS shares, which he said resulted in paying more than £4 million in excess tax.
He was also reportedly engaged in a business dispute with his second wife, a Thai national, from whom he was separated. The dispute related to a jointly run business, and he had previously been arrested and questioned in connection with the matter before being released.
While investigations into the circumstances of his death continue, Mr Griffiths is widely regarded as one of the early pioneers of the UK’s online retail boom. Alongside his co-founders, he helped shape the modern e-commerce landscape at the turn of the millennium, at a time when online shopping was still in its infancy.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Tributes are expected from across the retail and technology sectors in the coming days.
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