Intel Announces Major Leadership Shifts, Central Engineering Group Formation, and New Hires Amid US Government Stake Acquisition

Intel, a semiconductor industry titan, has been reshaping its executive leadership since Lip-Bu Tan assumed the CEO position in March.

In a recent announcement, Intel disclosed that Michelle Johnston Holthaus will be leaving the company after more than three decades of service. As the former CEO of Intel Products, she will transition to a strategic advisory role within the organization.

Additionally, Intel unveiled the formation of a central engineering group intended to establish a custom silicon business for external clients. This new initiative will be spearheaded by Srinivasan “Srini” Iyengar, who recently joined Intel from Cadence Design Systems.

Furthermore, Kevok Kechichian, previously with ARM, has been appointed to head Intel’s data center group. Jim Johnson has been promoted to senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s client computing group. Naga Chandrasekaran, the chief technology and operations officer of Intel Foundry, will also assume an expanded role within the company.

Tan stated in a press release, “With Srini leading Central Engineering, we are aligning innovation and execution more closely to better serve our customers. We are committed to delivering high-quality products and fostering an environment where our engineering teams can operate swiftly and effectively. Kevork, Jim, and Srini are distinguished leaders whose extensive technical knowledge and industry connections will be crucial as we continue to create a new Intel.”

This news follows closely on the heels of the U.S. government’s announcement of a plan to convert existing government grants into a 10% equity stake in Intel. The agreement includes provisions designed to penalize Intel if its foundry unit ownership falls below 50%.

These leadership changes are not limited to recent events. Tan’s appointment as CEO in March is noteworthy, and in July, the company announced the hiring of four new executives for sales and engineering roles, including Greg Ernst who will serve as Intel’s chief revenue officer.

Intel did not respond to requests for comment.