Long-term planning, almost everybody agrees, is a key to success, especially in the technology business. Even so, ARM Holdings is taking things to extremes. Warren East, at the age of 51, says he is bowing out as chief executive after 12 years because the company is already planning for 2020 and beyond. He thinks there's a risk of staleness setting in if he stayed in the top job for 20 years.
Once they have overcome their shock, ARM's shareholders will probably applaud this apparent act of sacrifice. ARM's stunning achievement – its microchips can be found in 95% of the world's smartphones – was not achieved by doing things conventionally. It is the best judge of what is best for it. And the change of chief executive also means continuity: company president Simon Segars, 45, has been at ARM even longer than East.
What the outside world wants to know is why the UK doesn't have more companies like ARM. "One reason is that we think we can't do it," says East. Good news, then, that he sees his future in technology in the UK. Sign him up before somebody in Silicon Valley tries to change his mind.
