Santa Clara, CA – March 21, 2025 – Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) announced on Thursday that Ann Kelleher, the vice president leading the company’s technology development, will retire by year’s end, marking a significant leadership shift at a critical time for the chipmaker’s manufacturing arm.
Kelleher, 59, a 29-year Intel veteran, has been instrumental in Intel’s effort to regain its technological edge over rivals, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). She played a key role in the development of Intel’s 18A manufacturing process, the company’s most advanced node, designed to close the gap with TSMC and enhance its foundry business.
Leadership Transition
As part of the transition:
- Naga Chandrasekaran, a former Micron executive Intel hired last year, will succeed Kelleher as chief technology and operations officer for Intel Foundry.
- Navid Shahriari, whom Intel named as Kelleher’s eventual successor last fall, will now serve as executive vice president of a newly formed manufacturing coordination group to streamline operations across Intel’s factories.
- Kelleher will remain with Intel through late 2025 as a strategic adviser to the foundry business, ensuring a smooth transition.
Kelleher’s Legacy
Originally from Ireland, Kelleher joined Intel in 1996 as a process engineer, working her way up to factory manager and eventually to head of technology development in 2020.
- She was a key architect behind the 18A process currently being ramped in Intel’s Hillsboro, Oregon research facilities.
- The new node is expected to power Intel’s next-generation chips and support external foundry customers, a cornerstone of the company’s IDM 2.0 strategy.
Strategic Timing
Kelleher’s retirement comes just days after Lip-Bu Tan officially assumed the role of Intel CEO, replacing Pat Gelsinger.
- The timing is significant, as Intel is preparing to roll out the 18A process later this year, hoping to narrow the gap with TSMC and expand its foundry business to win external customers.
- Intel is also ramping up manufacturing capacity in Arizona, Ohio, and Germany, part of its broader effort to reclaim leadership in advanced chipmaking.
Industry Impact
With 20,000 employees in Washington County, Oregon, Intel’s Hillsboro campus remains the heart of its manufacturing research.
- Chandrasekaran, while based in Arizona, will oversee operations across all of Intel’s fabs, including Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico.
- Analysts view Kelleher’s departure as well-timed, given the stabilizing progress of the 18A rollout and the company’s refined foundry leadership structure.
Looking Ahead
As Intel pushes forward with its foundry expansion and aims to compete with TSMC and Samsung, Kelleher’s departure signals a new chapter for the chip giant.
- With Chandrasekaran and Shahriari taking the helm, Intel is betting on its manufacturing evolution to restore its dominance in the semiconductor industry.
