Intel has announced a series of senior leadership appointments aimed at advancing its core product business, scaling its foundry operations, and reinforcing engineering capabilities across the company. The moves, which include new hires and expanded responsibilities for key executives, come as Intel continues its efforts to improve execution and sharpen competitiveness in the semiconductor industry.
According to a press release, Kevork Kechichian has been named executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group, overseeing Intel's data center business spanning cloud and enterprise solutions, including the Xeon processor line. Kechichian joins from Arm, where he was executive vice president of engineering and led the company's transition from IP licensing to full-stack solutions. He previously held leadership roles at NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Kechichian brings a blend of "strategic vision, technical depth, and operational rigor" to the role.
In the Client Computing Group, Jim Johnson has been confirmed as senior vice president and general manager, following an interim tenure. A 40-year Intel veteran, Johnson has held engineering and management positions across multiple business units. Tan credited him with providing "steady leadership" as Intel prepares to launch a new generation of client computing products.
Intel is also creating a Central Engineering Group led by Srinivasan (Srini) Iyengar, who joined the company earlier this year from Cadence Design Systems. Iyengar will oversee horizontal engineering functions and establish a custom silicon business serving external customers, particularly in the hyperscale data center market.
In its foundry operations, Intel said Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president and chief technology and operations officer, will expand his role to include Foundry Services. The change consolidates technology development, manufacturing, and go-to-market functions under a single leadership structure. Chandrasekaran, who joined Intel in 2024 from Micron, will continue reporting to Tan, while Kevin O'Buckley remains senior vice president and general manager of Foundry Services, reporting to Chandrasekaran.
Alongside these appointments, Intel announced that Michelle Johnston Holthaus, chief executive of Intel Products, will depart after more than 30 years at the company. Holthaus held several senior leadership roles, including interim co-CEO, General Manager of the Client Computing Group, and Chief Revenue Officer. She will serve as a strategic advisor during the transition period. Tan praised her for transforming key businesses and inspiring teams across the company.
Major corporate restructuring continues
In March 2025, Intel named Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO. Under his leadership, the company has embarked on a significant restructuring aimed at accelerating decision-making and bolstering technological leadership.
Tan's restructuring efforts have resulted in a flattened organizational hierarchy. Key business units, such as the Data Center and AI Group and the Client Computing Group, now report directly to the CEO. This change is intended to streamline the company's decision-making processes, enabling a more agile response to market demands in the highly competitive semiconductor industry.
Additionally, Intel appointed Sachin Katti as Chief Technology and AI Officer. Katti's responsibilities include overseeing the company's AI strategy and product roadmap as well as managing operations within the networking and edge computing division. This appointment reflects Intel's emphasis on expanding its AI capabilities and integrating advanced technologies across multiple sectors.
Changes to the company's board have also been implemented. Three board members retired, reducing the total board size to 11. To reinforce its industry expertise, Intel added Eric Meurice, formerly the CEO of ASML, and Steve Sanghi, interim CEO of Microchip Technology, to its board. Both new members bring extensive experience in the chip manufacturing sector, which Intel aims to leverage in its ongoing transformation.
Article edited by Jack Wu
