Lip-Bu Tan, Intel’s CEO since March 18, 2025, brings over four decades of semiconductor industry experience, having led Cadence Design Systems for 12 years, where he drove a 3,200% stock increase, and served as a venture capitalist at Walden International, investing in major players like China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation. Previously an Intel board member until August 2024, Tan is tasked with reviving the struggling chipmaker, which has lost 70% of its value since 2020 and posted a $19 billion loss in 2024, its worst since 1986. His strategy focuses on transforming Intel into a competitive foundry, emphasizing customer trust, operational efficiency, and AI chip development to rival TSMC.
To restore investor confidence and shift market perception, Tan urgently needs a major customer—such as Nvidia, Qualcomm, or Apple—to commit significant production to Intel’s foundry. Industry analysts, like Daniel Newman of The Futurum Group, stress that landing one high-volume client could redefine Intel’s narrative as a legitimate chip manufacturer. Tan is actively engaging customers to understand their technical needs and improve Intel’s manufacturing yield, particularly for its 18A process, while streamlining operations by addressing bureaucratic inefficiencies and middle management bloat. His $25 million personal investment in Intel stock underscores his commitment, but challenges remain, including competition from TSMC and Nvidia, delays in U.S. factory projects, and concerns over his past investments in Chinese firms tied to military interests.
