Intel CEO Bob Swan is stepping down from his position, effective February 15, and will be replaced by Pat Gelsinger, who will leave his position as the CEO of VMware to take the role. Gelsinger will also join Intel’s Board of Directors and has penned a memo to Intel’s employees (we’ve included the memo at the end of the article). 

We spoke with Bob Swan last week about the company’s plan for the future. Engineers have historically led Intel, and Swan has been dogged by criticism in the investment community because of his roots on the industry’s financial side – he served as Intel’s Chief Financial Officer before taking the helm as CEO in January 2019.    

Swan served as an interim CEO for seven months as Intel conducted an extended CEO search to replace the ousted Brian Krzanich. Famously, Swan reluctantly took the Intel CEO role after several months of remarking that he didn’t want the job.

Swan’s lack of technical acumen was thrown in stark relief as Intel struggled with problems with its 7nm node. The delay lead the company to announce that it would turn to outsourcing portions of its core logic components, a first for a company that built its empire on the strength of its manufacturing operations. The worsening state of Intel’s future node manufacturing recently led activist hedge fund Third Point to ask the company to explore “strategic alternatives,” like spinning off its fabs and/or divesting itself of unsuccessful acquisitions.

VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger was rumored to be up for the Intel CEO position during the previous search and has a storied 30-year history at Intel: He served as the CTO and Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the Digital Enterprise Group. 

During that time, Gelsinger was the architect of the original 80486 processor, helmed the creation of multiple generations of Xeon and Core processors, and helped develop technologies like USB and Wi-FI. Gelsinger holds a master’s degree from Stanford University, a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University (magna cum laude), and an associate degree from Lincoln Technical Institute, all in electrical engineering.

Gelsinger has served as VMware CEO since 2012 and has served at EMC as the Chief Operating Officer in the past. Gelsinger released the following statement: 

“I am thrilled to rejoin and lead Intel forward at this important time for the company, our industry and our nation,” said Gelsinger. “Having begun my career at Intel and learned at the feet of Grove, Noyce and Moore, it’s my privilege and honor to return in this leadership capacity. I have tremendous regard for the company’s rich history and powerful technologies that have created the world’s digital infrastructure. I believe Intel has significant potential to continue to reshape the future of technology and look forward to working with the incredibly talented global Intel team to accelerate innovation and create value for our customers and shareholders.”

“Pat is a proven technology leader with a distinguished track record of innovation, talent development, and a deep knowledge of Intel. He will continue a values-based cultural leadership approach with a hyperfocus on operational execution,” said Omar Ishrak, independent chairman of the Intel board. “After careful consideration, the board concluded that now is the right time to make this leadership change to draw on Pat’s technology and engineering expertise during this critical period of transformation at Intel. The board is confident that Pat, together with the rest of the leadership team, will ensure strong execution of Intel’s strategy to build on its product leadership and take advantage of the significant opportunities ahead as it continues to transform from a CPU to a multi-architecture XPU company.”

Intel’s stock is up 13% on the news. Here’s Gelsinger’s memo to employees:  

I am thrilled and humbled to be returning to Intel as CEO. I was 18 years old when I joined Intel, fresh out of the Lincoln Technical Institute. Over the next 30 years of my tenure at Intel, I had the honor to be mentored at the feet of Grove, Noyce and Moore. Intel then helped me continue my education at Santa Clara University and Stanford University. The company also gave me the opportunity to work on the forefront of silicon innovation with the best and brightest talent in the industry.

My experience at Intel has shaped my entire career, and I am forever grateful to this company. To come back “home” to Intel in the role of CEO during what is such a critical time for innovation, as we see the digitization of everything accelerating, will be the greatest honor of my career.

I have tremendous regard for the company’s rich history and the powerful technologies created here that have transformed, and continue to transform, the world’s digital infrastructure. We have incredible talent and remarkable technical expertise that is the envy of the industry.

I look forward to working with all of you to continue to shape the future of technology. While Intel’s history is rich, the transformation from a CPU to multi-architecture XPU company is exciting and our opportunity as a world-leading semiconductor manufacturer is greater than it’s ever been. I will be sharing more in the near-term about my vision and strategy for Intel, but I know we can continue to accelerate innovation, strengthen our core business and create value for our shareholders, customers and employees.

I want to extend my gratitude to Bob for his leadership and significant contributions to Intel through this critical period of transformation. I welcome his counsel and ongoing guidance through the transition period to make it as seamless as possible for our customers and all of you.

I’m sure you will have many questions about what is to come, and I look forward to hearing them, even if I won’t have all the answers on day one. I can’t wait to resume this journey with all of you.

– Pat