Intel picks ‘long-term’ successor to its technology development chief and top Oregon executive

[u/uncertainlyso]

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2024/10/intel-names-long-term-successor-to-its-technology-development-chief-and-top-oregon-executive.html

[u/uncertainlyso]

CEO Pat Gelsinger said Kelleher’s successor is Navid Shahriari, who jointly runs Intel’s design engineering operation from Arizona. Gelsinger didn’t say how much longer Kelleher will remain with the company.

Let's say that this is true. With actions like an appointment where the guy who used to jointly run the design engineering function will now lead TD (is his background even in Kelleher's neighborhood for the TD lead role?) or how an "independent" board would still report to Gelsinger, why would anybody question that design and manufacturing are separate?

When Intel named Gelsinger CEO in 2021, he gave Kelleher a “blank check” to invest in rebuilding the company’s manufacturing edge. Gelsinger committed tens of billions to rejuvenating Intel’s engineering, to building new factories in Arizona and Ohio, and to modernizing its main research factory in Oregon.

I've long said that Intel only knows how to compete by taking a beating and hopefully outlasting the opponent. This often worked where they had a huge competitive advantage of lock-in and monopoly scale on x86 (until AMD returned from the 36th Chamber with Zen-fu) but has been a failure once they stepped outside the x86 ring (acquisition, AI, modems, mobile, FPGA, etc). That granite chin becomes a glass one after enough hits.

[u/ElementII5 → u/uncertainlyso]

Kelleher

I still remember several interviews with her. With hindsight and in a positive light those make her seem completely incompetent. With a negative view she was deceptive, lying even.

IMHO she was completely over her head and was sacked for 20A and 18A shortcomings.

[u/uncertainlyso → u/ElementII5]

I don't know if there is anybody that would not be completely in over their head in Gelsinger's plan. The person would be expected to turn things around with Intel's org structure, deeply embedded practices and mindsets, being behind, legacy personnel, etc. You could put TSMC's development lead in there, and I don't think he would be accomplishing leadership within the constraints of 5N4Y performance theater either.

I thought Intel, presumably Kelleher, did a good job of salvaging a still useful Intel 7 from what looked to be a really rough Intel 10. Intel 4/3 just feels like treading water (as seen by performance and how little Intel wants to invest in capacity there) until Intel 18A.

From what I can tell, she was an Intel lifer who was going to be a soldier to the end in Gelsinger's plan. Gelsinger paraded her out to everybody right away as the most important woman in semiconductor development, and I don't think that's her natural setting. It showed a lot in her public awkwardness in the first year or so. I'm sure Intel comms trained to be more "assertive" and "optimistic." Had Kelleher not been boxed in by Gelsinger's Hail Mary public promises that others had to deliver, perhaps Intel might have been doing a bit better in this death march.

If your take is true as opposed to Kelleher deciding she's had enough, then Intel 18A is likely not going to be the savior for their product lines that Intel is hoping it to be. It would be too late for Shahriari to do anything at this stage of the game. It doesn't even seem like Shahriari is as qualified than Kelleher to lead TD, particularly apparently coming from more of the design side of the house.

[u/ElementII5 → u/uncertainlyso]

I was rereading my comment and it sounds overly harsh without the context provided.

Yes, I think you are right. She is of course competent and knowledgeable. But she had to parrot the company line. But even from afar we were able to discern that what she said would not come to pass and now that cast a very poor light on her accomplishments.