Intel considers an outside CEO, taps headhunters, sources say
Intel is considering tapping an outside hire as CEO, a nearly unprecedented occurrence, as the company reels from the ouster of Pat Gelsinger.
Intel is considering hiring an external candidate to replace ousted CEO Pat Gelsinger and has hired executive search firm Spencer Stuart to identify potential successors, according to people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions.
Intel's board has also made overtures to recently departed director Lip-Bu Tan about whether he would be interested in the top job at the struggling chipmaker, said one of the people.
An outside CEO would break from tradition at the chipmaker, which has historically promoted from within. While Gelsinger was hired from VMware in 2021, he had spent decades at the company in roles of increasing seniority. Gelsinger's predecessor Bob Swan was Intel's first true outside hire, but Swan was considered by many to be a stop-gap CEO and was then removed amid pressure from activist investor Third Point.