Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths dies after fall from Thailand high-rise, autopsy finds no evidence of foul play

Quentin Griffiths, a co-founder of the online retailer asos, has died after falling from a high-rise apartment block in Pattaya, Thailand. The death on 9 February has drawn attention because Griffiths remained a significant shareholder in the company he helped start and was engaged in legal disputes at the time.

What happened and what’s new

Thai police have identified Quentin Griffiths as the man found dead on the ground outside a luxury hotel in the eastern seaside city of Pattaya on 9 February. Griffiths, a British passport holder, had been staying in a suite on the 17th floor as a long-term resident. Authorities say the room was locked from the inside and that there was no trace of any break-ins at the time of the death. An autopsy did not reveal any evidence of foul play.

Griffiths co-founded Asos in 2000 and left the firm five years later but remained a substantial shareholder. He was involved in two ongoing court cases that police indicated might have been a source of stress. He had been separated from his second wife, a Thai national, and had been engaged in a legal dispute with her over a business they ran together. an Asos spokesperson said the company was saddened by his passing and expressed gratitude for his role in its early days. The Foreign Office has said it is supporting the family of a British national who died in Thailand and is in contact with local authorities.

Behind the headline: Asos co-founder’s role, context and legal stress

Griffiths helped launch Asos in London in 2000 and left the company around 2005 but retained a meaningful financial stake. The business grew into an online fashion marketplace, and at one point was valued at more than £6 billion. While Griffiths had not been part of day-to-day management for many years, his status as an early founder and significant shareholder means his death has resonance for observers of the company and its history.

Local investigators have pointed to two concurrent legal proceedings involving Griffiths and to a separation from his second wife as possible stressors prior to his death. Official findings so far emphasize the physical circumstances at the scene: the 17th-floor suite, the locked room, no signs of forced entry, and an autopsy that did not identify evidence of foul play.

What we still don’t know

• Whether the fall was accidental, intentional, or the result of other circumstances remains unconfirmed.
• Full details of the two ongoing court cases and their timelines are not publicly disclosed in available records.
• Comprehensive forensic or toxicology results beyond the initial autopsy summary have not been made public.
• Any formal inquest outcome or final police determination of cause of death has not been released.
• Specific arrangements or statements from the family regarding next steps have not been announced.

What happens next

• Police close the investigation with a formal ruling: Trigger — publication of an official police report or coroner's finding confirming cause of death.
• Further forensic results are released clarifying medical cause: Trigger — completion and release of toxicology or detailed autopsy findings.
• Family pursues additional inquiries or legal action in Thailand or elsewhere: Trigger — a public statement from family or legal representatives seeking further examination.
• Related court cases proceed or pause pending the outcome of inquiries into Griffiths's death: Trigger — filings or court scheduling updates in the ongoing legal matters.
• Company commentary or shareholder action if material financial interests are affected: Trigger — disclosure of any holdings that materially affect the company or its shareholder structure.

Why it matters

Near term, the death is principally a human tragedy for family, friends and colleagues and has prompted official assistance for the bereaved. For the company Griffiths helped found, the immediate practical impact may be limited given his departure from management two decades ago, but his status as a significant former shareholder links the event to the company’s broader history and investor narrative. The existence of ongoing legal disputes involving Griffiths raises questions about unresolved liabilities and business entanglements that could have civil or financial consequences for parties connected to those matters.

More broadly, the case underscores the procedural steps that follow an unexpected death abroad: local investigation, autopsy findings, potential inquests or coroner decisions, and coordination with the deceased's home government for consular support. Observers and interested parties will be watching for fuller police disclosures, any inquest proceedings, and statements from the family about next steps.

Further updates will depend on official releases from local authorities, completion of any additional forensic testing, and public statements from the family or legal representatives.