Intel has shaken up its leadership after a serious stumbling block in its advanced manufacturing development, marking an abrupt turmoil for a company typically known for its highly methodical management of administrative succession.
The company said last week that it was 12 months behind schedule in developing the process technology necessary to make its next generation of chips, based on 7-nanometer technology. The setback followed an earlier delay in its move to the current generation of 10nm chips, threatening to leave it behind Taiwanese producer TSMC in the global race to create the most efficient and fastest microprocessors.
The management changes, announced Monday, include the departure of Murthy Renduchintala, who had been in charge of all manufacturing, engineering, and technology for the American chipmaker, making him the company’s key engineering executive. At one point, Mr. Renduchintala was seen as a possible successor to Brian Krzanich, who was expelled as CEO of Intel two years ago.
The restructuring puts Ann Kelleher, a longtime Intel engineer and manufacturing manager, on the hot seat to deliver the 7nm products that are key to keeping the company at the forefront of chip manufacturing. Ms. Kelleher, who has been in charge of manufacturing for Intel since early 2018, will spearhead technical development and give her primary responsibility for the highly complex process technology required to manufacture the chips.
Kelleher, a process engineer who joined the company in 1996 and holds a PhD from University College Cork in Ireland, is the latest in a line of top Intel executives. Others include Diane Bryant, who led the Intel data center group, and Renée James, former president of Krzanich.
Ms. Kelleher took over the technical development of Mike Mayberry, who, according to the company, would be retiring by the end of the year. A former head of research and development, Mayberry did not have a track record in operations to match Kelleher, and had been carrying out technical development at the company for just a year.
Rather than replace Mr. Renduchintala, Intel said its engineering and manufacturing units would operate under separate leadership. Kelleher’s manufacturing role passes to Keyvan Esfarjani, who previously led the manufacturing of memory products.
Intel was already looking for a replacement for Jim Keller, its former high-profile chief of design engineering, who unexpectedly resigned last month. Mr. Keller is credited with product advancements at several different chip companies, and he recently designed the artificial intelligence processor used in Tesla’s electric cars. He left for what Intel said were personal reasons after just two years at the company.
