Intel’s Indian-origin chief engineer fired

SANTA CLARA: Intel Corp’s chief engineering officer Murthy Renduchintala is departing as part of a move in which a key technology unit will be separated into five teams, the chipmaker said on Monday.

Intel said it is reorganising its technology, systems architecture and client group. Its new leaders will report directly to chief executive officer Bob Swan. Ann Kelleher, a 24-year Intel veteran, will lead the development of 7-nanometre and 5-nanometre chip technology processes.

Last week, the company had said the smaller, faster 7-nanometre chipmaking technology was six months behind schedule and it would have to rely more on outside chipmakers to keep its products competitive.

Renduchintala, who was president of the group before its reorganisation and widely seen as a No 2 to Swan, joined Intel in 2015.

He was executive vice-president of Qualcomm Inc, and has been on Accenture’s board since April 2018. Renduchintala was one of several key hires from outside Intel, which had been famous in Silicon Valley for developing and promoting talent from within.