Intel Corp. announced a broad set of senior leadership changes aimed at strengthening its core product portfolio, sharpening execution, and advancing its ambitions in the foundry business. The moves include key appointments in data center, client computing, and engineering, as well as an expanded mandate for its foundry chief and the departure of a longtime executive.
Kevork Kechichian has been named executive vice president and general manager of Intel’s Data Center Group, where he will oversee the company’s portfolio across cloud and enterprise, including the Xeon processor family. Kechichian, who brings more than three decades of semiconductor industry experience, joins Intel from Arm, where he most recently served as executive vice president of engineering and helped shift the company from licensing IP to delivering full-stack solutions. He previously held senior roles at Qualcomm and NXP Semiconductors. “Kevork brings a powerful combination of strategic vision, technical depth, and operational rigor that will help us seize growth opportunities across the data center market,” Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan said.
Intel also confirmed Jim Johnson as senior vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group, a position he had held on an interim basis. Johnson, a 40-year Intel veteran, has worked across technology, manufacturing, networking, and global operations. He will oversee Intel’s PC and edge ecosystems as the company prepares to launch a new generation of products. “Jim’s steady leadership and trusted relationships across the computing industry are driving continued progress in our client business,” Tan said.
To better align engineering and execution, Intel has created a new Central Engineering Group led by Srinivasan (Srini) Iyengar, senior vice president and Fellow. Iyengar, who joined the company in June from Cadence Design Systems, will oversee horizontal engineering functions and build a new custom silicon business. At Cadence, he led global silicon engineering and worked with hyperscale customers to optimize key workloads. “With Srini leading Central Engineering, we’re aligning innovation and execution more tightly in service to customers,” Tan said.
The company is also restructuring its foundry operations. Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president and chief technology and operations officer of Intel Foundry, will expand his responsibilities to include Foundry Services, creating a more integrated structure that spans technology development, manufacturing, and customer engagement. Chandrasekaran, who joined Intel in 2024 from Micron, has extensive experience across R&D and manufacturing. “Naga’s strong leadership, combined with a more integrated foundry operating model, will help us enhance execution, collaboration and customer service,” Tan said. Kevin O’Buckley will remain senior vice president and general manager of Foundry Services, now reporting to Chandrasekaran.
Alongside the new appointments, Intel said Michelle Johnston Holthaus, chief executive of Intel Products, will depart after more than three decades 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 remain as a strategic advisor for the coming months. “Throughout her incredible career, Michelle has transformed major businesses, built high-performing teams and worked to delight our customers,” Tan said. “She has made a lasting impact on our company and inspired so many of us with her leadership.”
The reshuffle underscores Tan’s strategy to reinforce Intel’s core businesses while building momentum in the foundry segment. The company is investing heavily to regain competitiveness in data center and client markets while positioning itself as a trusted partner for outsourced chip manufacturing. Kechichian, Johnson, Iyengar, and Chandrasekaran will all report directly to Tan.
“As we continue building a new Intel, these leaders’ deep technical acumen and industry relationships will be instrumental,” Tan said. The changes come as Intel steps up efforts to regain its technological edge, expand its foundry business, and meet surging demand for chips across data center, AI, and PC markets.
