MJ Holthaus recently hinted at changes she hopes to implement in her new role as Products Chief Executive Officer and current co-CEO. She made these comments before the Barclay Annual Global Technology Conference.
Taking Over
Holthaus, who ascended to her new role following the surprise retirement of former chief executive Pat Gelsinger, was asked about her plans for the company’s products division and her managerial style. She said she did not intend to completely change her predecessor’s strategy but plans to instill a renewed focus on producing top-quality technological devices and services.
Specific Issues to Be Addressed
Holthaus plans to employ IP reuse across Intel’s cloud and edge portfolios.
“I think we have a large opportunity to really think about the way we can use the IP portfolio across the entirety of our product portfolio, and by the way, that’s something customers would like to see as well.” Holthaus said.
Holthaus thinks the increased demand for AI in personal computers in the coming year will require the company to invest in a software ecosystem to simplify this complex task. She added that she is not threatened by competitors posed by competitors like Arm and Qualcomm and that competition is a good thing.
“You will never hear me say (Arm in the PC) will not happen,” Holthaus said. “Because competition makes us better and, as long as you’re worried about who’s knocking on your door, you’re going to constantly be innovating and making sure that you don’t have blind spots.”
Intel’s new products boss said that among the company’s biggest upcoming challenges is improving its data center capabilities. Holthaus added that the data center business has undergone significant changes over the last few years and that her company has not adapted to the alacrity she had hoped for.
“For us, 2025 is a year of stabilizing this market and being laser focused on building the right products,” she said.
Holthaus is optimistic about Intel’s trajectory in this and other endeavors, but achieving these goals will require significant hard work and sacrifice.
Better Choices Are Needed
In general terms, Holthaus feels one way to meet such mandates is to render more prudent decisions moving forward. She thinks Intel has under-invested and has not moved fast enough at times. Because of these mistakes, the product side of her company sits in the position it does and faces challenging times and difficult choices.
Additional Changes at the Top
Holthaus’s ascension is not the only major shakeup at the top of Intel’s corporate structure. Following Gelsinger’s departure, Intel faced significant backlash. In response, the company appointed two new board members.
Eric Meurice occupies one of these positions. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the equipment manufacturer ASMC between 2004 and 2013. The company filled the other board vacancy with Steve Sangh, the Chief executive Officer of Microchip, between 1991 and 2001.
Moreover, he worked for Intel for a decade early in his career.
Sanghi published a book in 2006 titled Driving Excellence, which chronicled the strategies he implemented at Microchip. He turned a struggling company with outdated technology, failing factories, and low-morale workers into a thriving business.
Corporate observers wonder if the decision to split Intel’s foundry and product business was what ultimately led to Gelsinger’s exit.
Furthermore, no one knows the new board members’ position on the proposed separation.
When asked to discuss these subjects at the Barclay conference, Holthaus and her current co-CEO, David Zisner, agreed that the company’s product business has already served as its separate entity.
“As far as does it ever fully separate?” Zisner said. “I think that’s an open question for another day.”
Additionally, Zisner tried to allay fears as much as possible regarding future layoffs to Intel’s workforce.
“We’re done with the big reduction in force that we had to take,” he said. That’s complete, largely. However, we are going to be constantly revisiting where we’re spending money, making sure that we’re getting the appropriate return.”
