Prominent industrial titan and billionaire entrepreneur Sze Man Bok, the visionary co-founder of consumer goods giant Hengan International Group, has passed away at the age of 78. His death marks the close of an extraordinary era in Asian industrial manufacturing, where he helped transform a modest regional sanitary products firm into a multi-billion-dollar global household empire.

The Rise of Sze Man Bok: From Modest Beginnings to Household Titan

Born in Quanzhou, Fujian province, in 1947, Sze Man Bok embodied the quintessential spirit of pioneering private enterprise during the early days of China’s economic reforms. In 1985, recognizing a critical void in domestic personal care and feminine hygiene products, Sze partnered with fellow entrepreneur Xu Lianjie to establish Hengan Group.

At a time when modern feminine care items were scarce across rural and semi-urban markets in mainland China, Sze’s bold decision to invest heavily in modern automated production lines transformed daily life for millions. Under his sharp financial stewardship and supply-chain oversight, Hengan rapidly expanded from sanitary napkins into tissue paper, baby diapers, and adult incontinence care.

Building the Hearttex Empire and Public Market Triumph

In December 1998, under the guidance of Sze Man Bok, Hengan International accomplished a historic milestone by listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). It became one of the first major non-state-owned enterprises from Fujian to trade publicly in Hong Kong, earning immense respect from global institutional investors.

The introduction of the iconic Hearttex tissue brand in the early 2000s cemented Hengan’s dominance. By prioritizing premium paper quality, eco-conscious pulp sourcing, and extensive distribution networks spanning thousands of cities, Hearttex became a ubiquitous presence in homes, restaurants, and hotels throughout Asia.

Sze Man Bok Net Worth and Business Leadership

Throughout his decades at the helm, the Sze Man Bok net worth frequently placed him comfortably on the Forbes Global Billionaires list, hovering between $1.5 billion and nearly $3 billion during the peak valuation of consumer staples. Despite his immense personal fortune, colleagues and industry peers frequently described Sze as a low-profile, prudent industrialist who avoided flashy public displays of wealth.

Instead, Sze focused his capital on manufacturing innovation, high-volume production efficiency, and broad philanthropic contributions. Through family foundations and corporate social responsibility initiatives, he directed millions toward primary school construction, public health infrastructure, and disaster recovery initiatives across southeastern China.

Corporate Turnaround: AI Automation and Global Footprint

In recent years, Hengan faced rising raw material prices and fierce digital-first competition from emerging e-commerce brands. In response, Sze endorsed a multi-year modernization strategy designed to carry the legacy firm into a new high-tech era. The company increasingly deployed artificial intelligence across warehousing logistics, automated predictive inventory tracking, and expanded its manufacturing footprint into Southeast Asia.

“Mr. Sze laid the foundational pillars of integrity, operational resilience, and relentless market discipline that guide our operations today,” representatives noted in tribute. His passing leaves behind a resilient consumer products titan and a lasting model for entrepreneurial success across the developing world.