Hans Snook Executive of a wireless paging business (which subsequently became part of the Hutchison Whampoa Group). In 1992 Snook was despatched to the UK and closed Hutchison's Rabbit phone system; and instead turned efforts to developing the UK's fourth mobile phone network. On April 28, 1994 Orange was launched. Within five years Orange had developed an enviable reputation as well as a growing international presence. 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,
Sergei Popov (businessman) Sergei Popov (businessman) Sergei Viktorovich Popov (; born 1971) is a Russian entrepreneur, businessman and investor who promotes business education and the support of young entrepreneurs in Russia. After studying at the Ural Polytechnic Institute with a specialization in Industrial Heat Power Engineering in 1993, Popov became a partner in the Ural-Siberian Commercial and Industrial Company. In 1994, he co-founded Prodcontract, supplying scrap metal to Russia's biggest metallurgical plants. In 1996 he co-founded MDM Business Concern. From 1997 to 1999 he was a partner and business manager of the company. In 2000 he became co-founder and Chairman of the Board