Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths died after falling from a hotel balcony in Thailand earlier this month. An autopsy revealed no evidence of foul play. Here’s what we know.
What happened to Quentin Griffiths?
Quentin Griffiths was a 58-year-old British citizen. He was staying as a long-term resident in a suite at a hotel in Pattaya. Local police found Griffiths dead on the ground on Feb. 9 after he fell from a balcony on the hotel’s 17th floor.
Griffiths was staying on his own at the suite. He was by himself prior to the time of his death, as CCTV did not show anyone entering the room. The suite was locked from the inside and there was no trace of any break-ins at the time of the death, police told the BBC. An autopsy revealed no evidence of foul play.
Local law enforcement suggested suicide as the cause of death in their initial investigations. One of Griffith’s friends said he had been concerned about lawsuits from his former wife, who is a Thai national. The couple was separated and was reportedly engaged in a legal dispute over a business they ran together. Griffiths was involved in two ongoing court cases prior to this death. Documents tied to the lawsuits were found in his apartment, Reuters reported.
“We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities,” a British foreign office spokesperson said, per the BBC.
“We’re saddened to hear about the passing of Quentin, one of our original co-founders,” an Asos spokesperson said, per the BBC. “He played an important role in Asos’s earliest days and we’re forever grateful for his contribution.”
They added, “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Quentin Griffiths co-founded Asos in 2000
In 2000, Griffiths co-founded Asos in London with Nick Robertson, Andrew Regan and Deborah Thorpe. It was originally known as As Seen On Screen and sold clothing inspired by items worn by film and TV actors.
Asos became a leading online fashion marketplace that sold its own line alongside other brands. It established itself in the United Kingdom before expanding to other countries.
Griffiths worked as Asos’s marketing director before leaving in 2004, according to Reuters. Still, he remained a large shareholder for nearly 10 years.
The company struggled to compete with other e-commerce retailers in recent years. Asos’s shares went down about 96% from their peak value, according to Reuters.