Intel restructures to create new units for software and graphics

Creating new business units will boost innovation in critical business areas

Intel has announced plans to restructure its Data Platform Group (DPG) into two new units: the Datacenter and AI Group and Network and Edge Group.

The company is also creating two new business units - the Software and Advanced Technology Group and the Accelerated Computing Systems and Graphics Group - which will focus on software and graphics, respectively.

The chip maker has also announced the addition of two new tech leaders - Nick McKeown and Greg Lavender - to its executive leadership team, saying the changes will help strengthen execution and innovation in critical business areas.

Lavender, former VMware CTO, will be the general manager of the new Software and Advanced Technology Group. Intel expects this group to 'drive Intel's unified vision for software'.

McKeown will head the Network and Edge Group, bringing together the company's Connectivity Group, Network Platforms Group, and Internet of Things Group into a single business unit.

In addition, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger is promoting current executives Raja Koduri and Sandra Rivera to senior leadership roles.

Koduri, a veteran of Apple and AMD, will lead the Accelerated Computing Systems and Graphics Group, which Intel created to compete with Nvidia. The division will focus on high-performance computing and graphics, including integrated and discrete solutions for client, enterprise and data centre customers.

Rivera will lead the new Datacenter and AI Group. She will have the responsibility for developing datacentre products that areappropriate for the modern cloud world. Rivera most recently served as Intel's chief people officer, and according to Gelsinger has a "deep history in datacentre technology and a proven track record of integrating Intel's silicon and software portfolio to create greater customer value".

McKeown, Rivera, Koduri and Lavender will report directly to Gelsinger.

As part of the DPG restructuring, Intel announced that top datacentre executive Navin Shenoy will leave the company on 6 July. Shenoy was leading the group since its formation in 2019. He will help in the transition before leaving the firm.

'The company is grateful to Shenoy for his 26 years of service, including his contributions as leader of DPG, as well as his previous leadership of the Client Computing Group and Intel Asia Pacific,' the company said.

Intel has repeatedly missed chipmaking targets over recent years, and as a result, its newest desktop chips use older transistor technology than rival chips from Apple and AMD.

In March, Gelsinger said that the company would invest about $20 billion (£14.6 billion) on two new fabs in Arizona this year as part of plans to make processors for other chipmakers based on their own designs.

The American chipmaking giant has largely focused on making its own chips in the past years but, Gelsinger says, that will change with the company's new and independent Foundry Services unit.

Gelsinger also said that Intel will build additional factories in the US and Europe in the coming years.