Intel has appointed a new CTO who will also be responsible for AI

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who took over last quarter, recently appointed Sachin Katti, the former head of the company’s telecom business, as its new chief technology officer, who will also be responsible for the company’s artificial intelligence business.

Sachin Kutty. Image Source: Intel

This was reported by Reuters, citing an internal Intel newsletter. The changes initiated by Lip-Bu Tan also transferred the divisions that dealt with data center solutions and computing accelerators, as well as PC components, to his direct subordination. Apparently, the new head of Intel intends to more strictly control those areas of business that remain either problematic for the company or are not developing actively enough.

Previously, these areas were overseen by Michelle Johnston Holthaus, but she will continue to lead Intel’s product business, while simultaneously receiving new responsibilities and powers. In his address to his subordinates, the head of Intel emphasized that he “wants to roll up his sleeves and work with the engineering and product development teams to understand what exactly is needed to strengthen our solutions.” The head of the company promised to talk about the new tasks that will be assigned to Michelle Johnston Holthaus later.

New CTO Sachin Katti will be tasked with shaping Intel’s strategy for developing AI products. In January, Intel’s previous management realized that the Falcon Shores family of accelerators was not ready for market. In addition to its own developments in this area, Katti will oversee interactions with third-party developers and startups. Greg Lavender, who held the post of CTO until recently, will leave Intel in connection with Sachin Katti’s appointment to this position. The latter continues to be listed as a professor at Stanford University.

The position of Intel’s head of government relations remains vacant. Until November last year, Bruce Andrews held the position, but he left the company after the US presidential election. Lip-Bu Tan has also brought three lower-ranking Intel executives closer to him in a managerial sense: Rob Bruckner, Mike Hurley and Lisa Pearce. According to the head of the corporation, these changes will allow Intel to strengthen its focus on engineering solutions and highlight those aspects that will help the company compete and win.

Overall, Tan is keen to bring engineers closer to their leaders. The previous overly bureaucratic structure had gradually “stifled the innovation” the company needed to win in the marketplace, as the Intel CEO put it. Decisions took too long, and there wasn’t enough freedom or resources to develop new ideas. All that bureaucracy made it difficult for the company to operate efficiently.