Intel Announces Executive Shift, Launches Custom Chip Design Unit
SANTA CLARA, CA – Intel has removed Sachin Iyengar as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Foundry Group, ending his 30-year career with the company, and established a new business unit focused on designing custom chips for other companies. The move signals a potential shift in IntelS strategy, moving beyond solely chip manufacturing to compete directly with companies like Broadcom and Marvell in the custom design space.
The restructuring,announced alongside the appointment of Kevork Kechichian as head of Intel’s datacenter group,reflects CEO Pat gelsinger’s push for a “faster,leaner” business. Iyengar’s replacement and the creation of the new design unit suggest Intel intends to offer a more thorough service to clients, possibly designing chips tailored to specific needs rather than simply producing designs provided by others. This comes at a pivotal moment for Intel,which recently secured $5.7 billion in funding from the U.S. government thru the CHIPS Act, albeit with the condition of granting the government a 10% stake in the company.
Kechichian joins Intel from Arm, bringing extensive experience from previous roles at NXP Semiconductor and Qualcomm. He will lead the datacenter group, a critical area for Intel’s growth. The executive changes occur amidst a period of both opportunity and complexity for Intel, navigating government funding stipulations and a rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape. Iyengar will report directly to Gelsinger in his new role, overseeing the newly formed custom chip design unit.
