Following the surprise departure of Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, his successor confirms that the strategy laid out will be maintained.
Following Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s departure, Intel plans to follow the same core strategy. So says brand new interim co-CEO David Zisner. The statement is a bit surprising, since the exact reasons for Gelsinger’s sudden departure are still guesswork. Disagreement between the man and the board of directors on strategy, seemed a realistic avenue.
In other words, Intel retains its ambition to become a global player in chip manufacturing, competing with TSMC and others. Intel also wants to once again produce the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Implementation
How the strategy is implemented is up for debate. Intel executives felt, according to Toms Hardware, that Gelsinger has not been sufficiently successful in launching the right products at the right time. A wide range of relevant proprietary products, they said, is essential to the success of Intel Foundry. Specifically, Gelsinger would not have been sufficiently successful in embracing AI.
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Indeed, several products have been delayed under the CEO’s reign, including the Falcon Shores AI chip. That said, Gelsinger inherited an Intel in crisis, which had just taken forever to launch a 10 nm production line. Spurred on by the man, Intel narrowed its offerings, regained focus and bit AMD here and there, but presumably it wasn’t enough.
Few candidates
Interim co-CEO Zisner and his counterpart Michelle Johnston Holthaus may now look for a CEO who can better execute Gelsinger’s strategy. Only: there are not that many profiles available that have the experience, vision and technical knowledge to respond. The man himself, is one of the few who meet all the requirements. Zisner therefore points out that there is no need to draw too many conclusions about Gelsinger’s retirement based on his statement. He maintains that personal reasons for the ex-CEO were the deciding factor there.
Either way, Intel remains stuck in a quandary. The company has high ambitions and must execute a complex strategy, while the creator of that strategy has left. At the same time, competition is coming from both AMD and the entire ARM spectrum, and Intel is experiencing its worst quarters in ages.