As if the challenges posed by the rapidly changing personal computing segment isn’t enough, Intel is having to deal with something that could turn out to be even more of a serious issue to deal with, the exodus of several of its top-ranking officials in recent times.
What started as a trickle – the mobile chief at Intel, Aicha Evans handing over her resignation – is fast turning into a deluge what with Doug Davis and Kirk Skaugen heading Internet of Things and Client Computing Group respectively also set to leave the company.
Both Davis and Skaugen have spent the greater part of their lives at Intel, and both are leaving when Intel is at a critical juncture; when it is having to sort of reinvent itself with consumers ditching PCs for smaller and mobile computing devices. And Intel is yet to have a firm footing in the chip business catering to mobiles and tablets.
Doug Davis has served Intel for 32 years and appears to be retiring at the end of 2016 to “devote more time to family, friends, and other interests.” That seems a normal retirement after a long stint at Intel though Davis is tipped to continue holding on to his post until a successor is found.
However, Skaugen seems to have hit a greener patch of earth elsewhere. The senior VP served this Friday before relinquishing his duties to mobile client VP Navin Shenoy. Skaugen is regarded highly for his managerial skill and was also seen as a future CEO. However, some claim he might have chosen to jump ship to protest the recent elevation of Dr. Venkata Renduchintala to head the Client and Internet of Things Businesses and Systems Architecture group above him.
This does not seem to the end either as Bill Holt, the head of Technology and Manufacturing Group at Intel also intends to retire soon. Last year, Mooly Eden who has been another of a long-time Intel executive left Intel too.
What remains to be seen next is whether the infusion of fresh blood can script the company’s turnaround story or we might well have seen the best of Intel already.