Intel appointed former board member Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO on Wednesday, aiming to navigate the company through a challenging period. Tan, a seasoned veteran in the semiconductor industry, will officially assume the role on March 18. His name had been in consideration for the position since Intel parted ways with longtime executive Pat Gelsinger last year.
About Lip-Bu Tan
Lip-Bu Tan is 65 years old and was born in Malaysia. He has a strong academic background in science and technology. He studied physics at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore before earning a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Additionally, he holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco, equipping him with both technical expertise and business acumen.
Throughout his career, Tan has been deeply involved in the technology sector as an investor and executive. Since 1984, he has served as the chairperson of Walden International, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm specialising in technology investments. He also led Cadence Design Systems, a key Intel supplier and chip design company, as CEO from 2009 to 2021.
Beyond these leadership roles, Tan has contributed to several major technology firms. He was a board member at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and SoftBank Group, further solidifying his influence in the industry. In 2022, he joined Intel’s board as part of an effort to revitalise the company's global leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. His role expanded the following year to include oversight of Intel’s manufacturing operations. However, he resigned from the board due to disagreements over the company’s strategic direction.
After being named Intel’s new CEO, Tan reassured employees that he did not intend to separate the company’s design and manufacturing businesses. In a letter addressed to Intel staff on Wednesday, he emphasised Intel’s crucial role in the global technology ecosystem and expressed confidence in the company’s ability to regain its competitive edge, according to a Reuters report.