Intel Taps Micron Exec After $7B Foundry Loss

Intel has officially announced the appointment of Dr. Naga Chandrasekaran as the Chief Global Operations Officer, Executive Vice President, and General Manager of Intel Foundry Manufacturing and Supply Chain Organization. Dr. Chandrasekaran, who will now oversee all of Intel's manufacturing operations, joins Intel from Micron Technology, where he spearheaded process technology development.

Starting on August 12th, Dr. Chandrasekaran will become part of Intel's executive leadership team, reporting directly to CEO Pat Gelsinger. He will manage Intel's global manufacturing operations and strategic planning, including wafer fabrication, assembly testing, corporate quality assurance, and supply chain management. His role encompasses all of Intel's manufacturing efforts, covering both Intel's processors and chips made for Intel's clients.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger stated, "Naga Chandrasekaran is a highly accomplished executive whose deep expertise in semiconductor manufacturing and technology development will significantly enhance our team. As we continue to build a resilient global semiconductor supply chain and establish the world's first system foundry for the AI era, Naga's leadership will drive our progress and help us seize substantial long-term growth opportunities."

This leadership change comes after a challenging period for Intel's foundry business, which reported a $7 billion loss in 2023 and a $2.5 billion loss in the first quarter of 2024. The appointment also follows Kevin O'Buckley's replacement of Stuart Pann as head of Intel's foundry services in May. O'Buckley has previously held roles at GlobalFoundries and Marvell Technology.

Dr. Chandrasekaran succeeds Keyvan Esfarjani, a nearly 30-year Intel veteran who will retire at the end of the year. Esfarjani has been a key figure in Intel, contributing significantly to the company's global supply chain resilience and manufacturing operations, with extensive expertise in process engineering, capacity, and manufacturing. He will remain with Intel until the end of the year to ensure a seamless transition.

Dr. Chandrasekaran brings over 20 years of experience from Micron, where he held various senior leadership positions. Recently, he led global technology development and engineering for extended storage devices, advanced packaging, and emerging technology solutions. His broad background includes process and equipment development, device technology, and mask technology. At Intel, he will collaborate closely with other key leaders in Intel's foundry operations, including Ann Kelleher, Kevin O'Buckley, and Lorenzo Flores.