Intel Corporation has appointed Lip-Bu Tan as its new chief executive officer, with his tenure set to begin on 18 March.
Recently, Intel has been losing investors’ trust and having internal issues in its manufacturing and design operations. The company has brought in Lip-Bu Tan to help resolve this.
Tan, a veteran of the semiconductor industry, previously served as CEO of Cadence Design Systems and was a member of Intel’s board until August 2024. His experience in both chip design and venture capital places him as a strategic choice to scale up Intel’s ongoing transformation.
Following the announcement, Intel’s shares surged by 12% in extended trading, showing that investors are confident about his leadership.
In a letter to employees, Tan acknowledged the challenges ahead while stating that Inte has the ability to regain its competitive edge. “Together, we will work hard to restore Intel’s position as a world-class products company, establish ourselves as a world-class foundry and delight our customers like never before,” he stated.
Intel has been under pressure to adapt to the fast-changing semiconductor market, particularly as competitors such as Nvidia and TSMC continue to dominate the sector.
The company’s efforts to expand its contract manufacturing business have brought issues about cash flow, with reports indicating that players in the space, including Broadcom and TSMC, have explored potential partnerships or acquisitions of Intel’s assets.
Analysts have welcomed Tan’s appointment, stressing his technical expertise and deep industry connections as key assets.
Jack E. Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Assocommented, “Tan has an intrinsic understanding of the semiconductor industry, both from a product design aspect as well as the needs of enabling chip manufacturing—an area that Intel Foundry needs help in making their tools more user-friendly and accessible for potential customers.”
Tan’s leadership arrives at a time of geopolitical tensions affecting the semiconductor industry. The United States government has pushed for increased domestic chip production, with former President Donald Trump advocating for policies that could reshape global supply chains.
While Intel stands to benefit from government incentives, the company must also contend with growing competition from Asian manufacturers.
Nonetheless, analysts believe the appointment of Lip-Bu Tan shows that Intel is ready to maintain its current structure rather than split its design and manufacturing operations.
