Warren East, chief executive of ARM Holdings, signalled that he remains as ambitious as ever yesterday, as he sealed a $913 million (£500 million) deal to buy Artisan, the US components group. On announcing the deal the chip designer, whose chips are used in mobile phones and personal stereos, said there could be more to come.
Mr East has been with the Cambridge-based ARM since 1994. He oversaw the development of the company’s consulting business before moving through a variety of high-level positions to become chief executive in October 2001.
He describes his time at ARM — which has seen him take on the roles of vice-president of business operations and chief operating officer — as a “baptism of fire”.
Prior to joining ARM he spent 11 years at Texas Instruments, the world’s largest maker of chips for mobile phones. His most recent position was in a marketing role covering Europe. He holds an MA from Oxford University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. Favourite bands on his ARM-powered iPod include Genesis.