Key points
- Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel’s chief of products, departs after over three decades.
- Kevork Kechichian joins as Executive Vice President and General Manager (GM) of the Data Center Group.
- A new central engineering group, led by Srinivasan Iyengar, is established to build a custom silicon business.
- Naga Chandrasekaran’s role expands to include Foundry Services. Jim Johnson was appointed as GM of Intel’s client computing group.
Intel Corporation (INTC.O) announced a significant restructuring of its executive leadership team on Monday, marking a pivotal moment in CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s efforts to revitalize the struggling semiconductor giant. The changes follow reports earlier this year indicating Tan’s intention to streamline the company’s structure, flattening the leadership hierarchy and reducing job numbers.
The most prominent departure is that of Michelle Johnston Holthaus, the former chief of products, who is leaving after a career of over 30 years with the company. While stepping away from her operational role, Holthaus will continue to serve as a strategic advisor in the months to come. Her interim co-CEO role following the departure of Pat Gelsinger last year further highlights the significance of this change.
The restructuring also includes several key appointments. Kevork Kechichian, a veteran of the semiconductor industry with experience at Arm, NXP Semiconductors, and Qualcomm, joins as executive vice president and general manager of Intel’s Data Center Group. This appointment underscores Intel’s commitment to strengthening its position in the crucial data center market.
Furthermore, Srinivasan Iyengar, promoted to Senior Vice President, will lead a newly formed central engineering group tasked with developing a custom silicon business for external clients. This initiative aims to diversify Intel’s revenue streams and expand its market reach.
Further strengthening Intel’s foundry operations, Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president and chief technology and operations officer of Intel Foundry, will now oversee Foundry Services. This expanded responsibility reflects the growing importance of Intel’s foundry business in the broader semiconductor landscape.
Finally, Jim Johnson has been appointed as the new general manager of Intel’s Client Computing Group, responsible for the critical PC market segment.
These leadership changes come amidst a period of considerable uncertainty for Intel, compounded by recent political pronouncements. The announcements follow President Trump’s controversial suggestion of a government stake in the company and his call for Tan’s resignation, creating a challenging backdrop for the company’s ongoing transformation efforts.
