The global consumer goods and manufacturing sector is mourning the loss of a self-made industrial giant. Sze Man Bok, the visionary co-founder and longtime executive of consumer hygiene behemoth Hengan International Group, has passed away at the age of 78. Over nearly four decades, he transformed a regional tissue and personal care venture into one of Asia’s most dominant multinational corporations.

The Early Vision Behind Hengan International

Born in mainland China before forging his commercial career across Hong Kong and Fujian, Sze Man Bok was among the first generation of entrepreneurs to capitalize on China’s historic economic opening in the late 1970s and 1980s. Recognizing an acute scarcity of modern, hygienic feminine care and sanitary paper products across emerging markets, Sze teamed up with fellow businessman Hui Lin Chit in 1985 to launch Hengan.

Starting with humble operations in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, the duo introduced the Anerle brand, pioneering packaged sanitary napkins in mainland households. Under Sze’s commercial stewardship and logistical foresight, Hengan quickly captured commanding domestic market share, evolving from a local factory into an untouchable household name.

Stock Market Triumph and Explosive Growth

In December 1998, Hengan achieved a major historic milestone by listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK: 1044). The public offering supercharged the group’s manufacturing capacity, funding massive production facilities and research hubs across China.

During the early 2000s, Hengan expanded aggressively into household paper products through its flagship tissue line, Hearttex. Sze spearheaded deep investments into premium raw pulp procurement, environmental wastewater management, and modern European converting machinery, leaving foreign multinationals struggling to compete with Hengan’s localized distribution muscle.

Sze Man Bok Net Worth and Wealth Portfolio

Throughout his career, Sze Man Bok was a regular fixture on international wealth trackers, including the Forbes Billionaires Index and the Hurun Global Rich List. At his peak, Sze commanded an estimated personal fortune ranging between $1.8 billion and $2.6 billion.

His substantial net worth was anchored by:

• Equity Holdings in Hengan International: Sze maintained a substantial personal and family trust stake in the publicly listed conglomerate.
• Strategic Real Estate Holdings: Prime commercial real estate and industrial warehousing assets distributed across Hong Kong, Fujian, and Shanghai.
• Private Investments: Direct holdings in regional logistics infrastructure, supply-chain hubs, and clean packaging technologies.

AI Transformation and International Expansion

Even in his later years, Sze recognized that traditional manufacturing had to evolve rapidly to survive shifting digital economies. Prior to his passing, Hengan initiated aggressive modernization programs, infusing artificial intelligence into automated warehouse logistics, predictive supply chain management, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce fulfillment.

Concurrently, the company laid the groundwork for expanded footprints across Southeast Asia and Africa, ensuring Hengan’s reach extended well beyond mainland borders to meet burgeoning consumer demand in emerging global corridors.

A Lasting Industrial Legacy

Industry leaders, corporate peers, and institutional investors have expressed deep condolences following the announcement of Sze’s death. Colleague executives credited him as a pragmatic, steady-handed industrialist whose fiscal discipline shielded the enterprise through multiple global recessions, currency fluctuations, and market shifts.

As Hengan International steps into a new chapter steered by next-generation executive leadership, Sze Man Bok’s journey stands as a testament to the grit, innovation, and strategic clarity that defined modern Asian enterprise.