Orange founder plans alternative health business

Hans Snook, the founder and ex-chief executive of mobile phone

network Orange, is to launch a chain of health outlets extolling the

benefits of alternative medicine.

Snook is understood to have been working on the brand since he stepped

down from Orange in March, when the company floated on the London and

Paris stock markets.

The outlets, due to launch this year, are likely to market alternative

health remedies and therapies, and could provide consumers with access

to courses and practitioners, although details of the venture are

unknown.

Since he stepped down as chief executive, Snook has remained in an

official capacity at Orange as an adviser to the board. His personal

interests have been well documented to include alternative medicine and

feng shui.

Snook founded Orange with deputy chief executive Graham Howe eight years

ago when it was owned by Hutchison Telecom.

He oversaw its landmark 'The future's bright - the future's Orange' ads,

developed by WCRS. Lowe Lintas won the creative account from WCRS last

August.

France Telecom, which bought the operator from Vodafone for £30bn

in late-1999, installed Jean-Francois Pontal as Snook's successor in

March.

This article was first published on Marketing