International consumer goods pioneer and self-made billionaire Sze Man Bok, co-founder and executive chairman of Hong Kong-listed Hengan International Group, has passed away peacefully, the company officially confirmed. He leaves behind one of the most remarkable entrepreneurial legacies in Asian corporate history, having transformed a modest regional manufacturing venture into China’s dominant household hygiene empire.
Quick Facts: Sze Man Bok (1950–2026)
- Full Name: Sze Man Bok (施文博)
- Role: Co-Founder, Executive Director & Board Chairman, Hengan International
- Estimated Peak Net Worth: $1.7 Billion to $2.2 Billion (Forbes Billionaires Index)
- Key Industry: Consumer Goods, Personal Hygiene, Paper Manufacturing
- Flagship Brands: Space 7 (Anerle), Hearttex, ElderJoy
The Rise of an Industrial Titan: The Sze Man Bok Story
Born in mainland China before relocating to Hong Kong, Sze Man Bok started out with humble resources and sharp commercial instincts. In 1985, long before mainland China’s massive consumer boom took flight, Sze recognized an underserved segment of the market: high-quality personal hygiene products.
Teaming up with business partner Hui Lin Chit, Sze founded Hengan International in Fujian province. Together, they navigated heavy bureaucratic hurdles and initial market skepticism to build China’s first modern domestic production lines for personal care. What began with sanitary napkins under the ‘Anerle’ label quickly expanded into baby diapers, wet wipes, and household tissue under household staples like Hearttex.
Hengan International Chairman: Navigating Global Expansion
Under Sze’s decisive board leadership, Hengan International made history in December 1998 by going public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK: 1044). The initial public offering launched the company into global markets, eventually landing it a prestigious position as a Hang Seng Index constituent stock.
Over four decades at the helm, Sze steered the conglomerate through intense market shifts, supply chain disruptions, and intense competition from multinational giants like Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark. By focusing on deep domestic distribution networks across tier-3 and tier-4 cities alongside premium urban retail, Hengan captured dominant market shares, generating tens of billions of yuan in annual revenue.
Sze Man Bok Net Worth Breakdown: How the Fortune Was Built
Widely regarded as one of Fujian’s most discreet billionaires, Sze consistently featured prominently on the global Forbes and Hurun Rich Lists.
- Hengan Equity Holdings: The core of Sze’s fortune derived from his substantial equity stake in Hengan International Group Company Limited, where he remained one of the largest single individual shareholders alongside the Hui family.
- Dividend Accumulation: Hengan’s consistent shareholder-return policy and decades of steady dividend payouts provided Sze with vast liquid capital, heavily reinvested into regional private equity, real estate developments, and diversified bond portfolios across East Asia.
- Philanthropic Trusts: Known for quiet philanthropy, Sze channeled millions into educational institutions, hospital wings, and local community infrastructure development across Quanzhou and Jinjiang.
Corporate Succession and Market Impact
In its regulatory disclosure to the Hong Kong stock exchange, Hengan International expressed profound grief and extended deepest condolences to his family, affirming that the board will ensure an orderly transition without operational disruption.
As the business world pays tribute to Sze Man Bok, colleagues and industry peers remember an executive whose vision fundamentally altered everyday hygiene standards for hundreds of millions of consumers across Asia.
