Family stunned as ex-computer boss dies at 46

THE former vice-president of a major computer firm from the Capital has died on holiday in Majorca.

Robert Shanks, 46, was found dead in his Santa Ponsa hotel room on July 26 and his body has since been flown back to his home city for burial on Friday.

It is understood he died from pancreatitis.

Mr Shanks, from South Queensferry, was a successful procurement executive who had travelled all over the world as part of his job with computer company Dell.

He was promoted to vice-president of international procurement one year after joining the company in 1997 and was credited with launching the company's Asian procurement operation.

Mr Shanks left the firm in 2003 and had been working as a consultant for the last eight years.

His wife Hosna paid tribute to her husband, who she said lived a short but "very fulfilled life".

"It was a vacation that turned into a tragedy," said Mrs Shanks, who is being comforted by her late husband's family in South Queensferry.

"We are in total shock and are trying to come to terms with it. It is very difficult.

"We are all in denial, which probably makes it easier to deal with."

Paying tribute to her husband, she said: "Robert was generous, had energy beyond imagination, was a workaholic, a competitor and was ethical, but with all that he was very humble.

"He talked with CEOs but was comfortable with regular Joes at work or out playing pool.

"He treated everyone the same. People wanted to work for him and with him, he had a generosity and attitude that made people want to be around him."

Mrs Shanks said a colleague of her husband had given her an insight into how highly regarded he was professionally.

"He told me that 'When Robert talks, Michael Dell (chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Dell] listens'.

"So he has a legacy in the professional world."

Mr Shanks, a devoted Celtic fan, had lived in Scotland, America, Hong Kong, Toronto, Thailand and the Philippines.

A keen traveller, he had visited 46 countries and was planning a trip to Taiwan to hold discussions about taking up a job there.

Mr Shanks attended St Margaret's Primary School in South Queensferry and Our Lady's RC High School in Broxburn.

His funeral will take place at St Margaret's Church in South Queensferry from 10am on Friday and he will be buried at Queensferry Cemetery at 11.30am.

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