Sir John Buchanan to quit Vodafone to be ARM chairman Sir John has been at Vodafone for nine years and would therefore no longer be considered an independent. Although he could still continue on the board, he has decided that his other board duties at ARM and the prosthetic limb manufacturer Smith and Nephew, where he is also chairman, means that standing down is the preferable option. ARM also provides chip products for netbooks including Vodafone's own South African web-book marketed under Vodafone's South African affiliate, Vodacom. People close to Sir John have strongly denied claims that his departure is anything to do with concerns about whether Vodafone could use the possible acquisition of Cable and Wireless Worldwide to defer tax payments. CWW's £5bn of losses could possibly be used by any purchaser to offset tax payments. One source close to Sir John said the claims that he was concerned were "rubbish" and made it clear Vodafone had made no decision on whether to bid for CWW.