Intel, the prominent technology company, confirms executive reorganization, with the product chief, Holthaus, stepping down.

Intel Announces Leadership Changes and New Ventures

In a series of significant moves, Intel, the U.S. chipmaker, has announced several changes in its leadership team and new initiatives.

The most notable departure is that of products chief Michelle Johnston Holthaus, who has been with the company for over three decades and held numerous senior leadership roles. Holthaus served as interim co-chief executive officer following the ouster of former CEO Pat Gelsinger last year. No details have been provided about her departure.

In her place, Kevork Kechichian, a chip industry veteran, has joined Intel as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Data Center Group. Kechichian, who comes from Arm, will take on the responsibility of leading Intel's data centre business.

Naga Chandrasekaran, who was previously the CEO of Intel's Foundry Services, has expanded his role to include Foundry Services at Intel. He will now oversee the company's manufacturing operations.

To further streamline operations, Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan seeks to flatten the company's leadership team, with most important chip groups reporting directly to him.

In addition to these changes, Intel has set up a new central engineering group, which will be led by Srinivasan Iyengar. Iyengar will build a new custom silicon business to serve a broad range of external customers in his expanded role.

Jim Johnson has been appointed as General Manager of Intel's Client Computing Group.

The new Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Data Center Group, Kechichian, announced his appointment on Monday. He said, "I am excited to join Intel at such a pivotal time and look forward to working with the team to drive innovation and growth in the data center market."

Meanwhile, Holthaus will remain a strategic adviser over the coming months.

The leadership changes come as Intel faces challenges in the competitive chip market. U.S. President Donald Trump has called for Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign over conflicts of interest, and has also said that the government would take a 10% stake in Intel.

Tan is intensifying efforts to turn around the struggling U.S. chipmaker, and the new appointments and initiatives suggest a renewed focus on growth and innovation.

Kechichian, with his extensive experience in the chip industry, is expected to play a key role in this effort. He has previously worked at NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm.

The departure of Holthaus and the appointment of Kechichian are the latest in a series of changes at Intel, as the company seeks to navigate the complex and rapidly changing technology landscape.

Intel, the prominent technology company, confirms executive reorganization, with the product chief, Holthaus, stepping down.