- Intel’s products chief Michelle Johnston Holthaus steps down after over 30 years but continues as a temporary adviser.
- New leaders are appointed across data centre, client computing, foundry and custom silicon operations.
What happened: Intel reorganises its executive team as products chief Holthaus exits
Intel has announced a significant executive reshuffle under CEO Lip‑Bu Tan, marking a pivotal moment for the company amid growing competition in the semiconductor market. Michelle Johnston Holthaus, who served Intel for over 30 years and briefly acted as interim co‑CEO, is stepping down as chief of Intel Products but will remain temporarily as a strategic adviser. The change is part of a broader effort to streamline Intel’s management and accelerate operational efficiency.
The reshuffle also introduces new leadership across key divisions. Kevork Kechichian, formerly at Arm, NXP and Qualcomm, becomes executive vice‑president and general manager of the Data Center Group. Srinivasan Iyengar leads a newly created central engineering group for custom silicon clients, while Jim Johnson takes over the Client Computing Group and Naga Chandrasekaran expands responsibilities to include Foundry Services.
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Why it is important
Intel’s leadership changes highlight a strategic pivot towards agility and innovation. Elevating a custom silicon business reflects the company’s intent to compete more effectively in AI, data centre infrastructure, and purpose-built semiconductor markets. This alignment under Tan’s leadership could strengthen decision-making and accelerate product development cycles, critical as rivals such as TSMC and Nvidia continue to expand their market presence.
The combination of long-serving executives and fresh external expertise is a cautiously positive move. Holthaus’s institutional knowledge and the new appointments could foster both stability and innovation. The reshuffle is timely, potentially enhancing Intel’s ability to leverage government support for domestic semiconductor initiatives while scaling its foundry capabilities globally.
