Hans Snook

Hans Roger Snook (born 26 May 1948) is a British businessman, best known for his time as the founder (with Graham Howe) and chief executive of British mobile phone company Orange.

Early life

He was born to a German mother and a British father, and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where he went to the University of British Columbia.[1]

Career

He then began a career in hotel management, which led him to Calgary for six years. In 1983, he set off on a round-the-world trip, which was cut short when he arrived in Hong Kong and became chief executive of a wireless paging business (which subsequently became part of the Hutchison Whampoa Group). In 1992 Snook was despatched to the UK where he closed Hutchison's Rabbit CT2 phone network and directed efforts to developing the UK's fourth mobile phone network.[1]

On 28 April 1994, Orange was launched. Within five years the company had developed an enviable reputation as well as a growing international presence.

In October 1999, Mannesmann of Germany purchased Orange plc, in a failed attempt to challenge Vodafone as the world's leading mobile phone company. This set off a chain of events which resulted in France Télécom taking ownership of Orange, and in 2001 Snook stepped down as a special advisor to Orange.[2][1] His public involvement since then in the UK telecoms industry was as chairman of Carphone Warehouse between 2002 and 2005. On stepping down from this post he was appointed non-executive chairman of Monstermob Group plc, the ringtone company.

From 2002, Snook was a director of The Diagnostic Clinic Ltd, providing health screening linked to alternative medicine,[3] and its parent company The Integrated Health Consultancy Limited.[4] Both companies entered liquidation in 2012 with aggregate debts of £8.6 million, of which £7.2m was owed to Snook.[5]

Personal life

Hans is divorced from his first wife Etta Lai Yee Lau.[6] He is now married to Helen Seward. They live in Marbella.

References
  1. "Paint the town Orange". The Globe and Mail. 25 May 2001. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. "Hans Snook sheds light on his future". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022.
  3. Lacey, Hester (7 July 2003). "How are you really?". The Independent. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  4. "Hans Roger Snook: Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  5. "The Integrated Health Consultancy Limited: Statement of Affairs". Companies House. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  6. Marketing Week (7 December 2000). "Snook's retreat". Retrieved 6 November 2022.
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