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).
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.
On stepping down from this post he was appointed non-executive chairman of Monstermob Group plc, the ringtone company.
[4] Both companies entered liquidation in 2012 with aggregate debts of £8.6 million, of which £7.2m was owed to Snook.