Global markets and the consumer goods sector were met with somber news this week as personal care giant Hengan International announced the death of its legendary co-founder and leader. The respected Hengan International chairman, Sze Man Bok, has passed away, closing a monumental chapter in the industrial transformation of East Asia’s household and personal care markets.
Quick Facts: Sze Man Bok (1950–2026)
- Role: Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Hengan International Group
- Enterprise: Maker of Hearttex, Space 7, Anerle, and ElderJoy
- Estimated Peak Net Worth: Over $2.5 Billion USD
- Headquarters: Jinjiang, Fujian Province / Hong Kong
- Legacy: Built China’s largest domestic tissue paper and feminine hygiene manufacturer
The Passing of Hengan International Chairman Sze Man Bok
In a formal regulatory filing to the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), the board of directors expressed profound sorrow over the demise of its visionary helmsman. Under Sze’s four-decade stewardship, Hengan evolved from a modest township enterprise in Fujian Province into a dominant blue-chip conglomerate listed on the Hang Seng Index.
“Mr. Sze devoted his entire lifetime of wisdom and energy to the founding, listing, and flourishing development of Hengan Group,” the corporate board noted in an official tribute. “His foresight, uncompromising focus on product quality, and philanthropic commitment shaped the foundation of our enterprise.”
From Humble Origins to a Multi-Billion-Dollar Empire
Born in 1950 in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, Sze Man Bok showed an extraordinary aptitude for commerce during the formative years of China’s economic reforms. In 1985, alongside trusted business partner Hui Lin Chit, Sze recognized an underserved segment in the domestic retail landscape: high-quality personal hygiene products.
Starting with basic manufacturing machinery imported through Hong Kong, the duo launched sanitary napkins under brand names that quickly earned household trust across China. While multinational giants like Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark dominated tier-one urban hubs, Sze outpaced foreign competitors by building unrivaled distribution across secondary cities, towns, and rural regions.
Key Milestones Under His Leadership
- 1998 Historic Listing: Sze led Hengan to a landmark initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming the first Fujian-based private enterprise to trade publicly overseas.
- The Hearttex Revolution: Diversifying into premium household paper in the early 2000s, Hengan introduced Hearttex, which grew into one of the most recognized tissue and napkin brands in the world.
- Expansion into Senior Care: Foreseeing rapid demographic shifts across Asia, Sze spearheaded the ElderJoy adult incontinence line, pioneering modern elderly care solutions across mainland markets.
Leadership Transition and Corporate Resilience
Despite fierce competition in the e-commerce era and volatile global pulp prices, Sze preserved Hengan’s rock-solid balance sheet and high dividend yield, making the stock a longtime favorite among institutional investors. In recent years, he championed comprehensive supply chain digitalization and environmentally conscious bamboo-fiber paper products.
Hengan International assured investors and partners that executive duties remain seamlessly distributed. The leadership succession plan, long organized alongside CEO Hui Lin Chit and the executive committee, ensures uninterrupted operations across its tens of thousands of retail channels and national manufacturing plants.
A Philanthropic and Industrial Legacy
Beyond the corporate boardroom, Sze Man Bok was widely celebrated for his philanthropy. Through personal donations and corporate foundations, he directed hundreds of millions of yuan toward disaster relief, rural education, university scholarships in Fujian, and healthcare access for underserved communities.
Industry analysts and business leaders across Hong Kong and mainland China have hailed Sze as a trailblazer who proved that local entrepreneurs could out-innovate global multinationals while maintaining deep ethical ties to their home communities.