Intel’s new CEO Tan Lip-Bu tells customers to ‘be brutally honest’
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Mr Tan Lip-Bu, Intel's new CEO, is tasked with restoring the fortunes of Intel, a pioneering chipmaker that has become an industry laggard.
PHOTO: ST FILE
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SAN FRANCISCO – In his first remarks as Intel’s new chief executive, Mr Tan Lip-Bu on March 31 outlined a leaner version of the iconic American chipmaker, in which he would work directly with engineers to develop new products based on feedback from the company’s customers.
Mr Tan, who grew up in Singapore
Speaking at Intel’s “Vision” event in Las Vegas, where the company was set to discuss products with its customers, Mr Tan said he spent his first weeks on the job meeting customers and added that the company had fallen far short of their expectations.
“Please be brutally honest with us. This is what I expect of you this week, and I believe harsh feedback is most valuable,” he said.
Reuters previously reported that Mr Tan plans to eliminate what he views as a slow-moving and bloated middle management layer.
On March 31, Mr Tan repeatedly promised to give more power to Intel’s engineers, saying that new ideas have not had “room to develop and grow” at Intel in recent years.
“We’re going to really drive some new ideas, giving engineers freedom to innovate from within,” he said.
“My weekend is usually packed with a lot of engineers and architects. They have some brilliant ideas, they want to change the world, and that’s where I get excited to work closely with them.”
Mr Tan said his primary focus will be on recruiting and keeping engineers.
“We lost quite a bit of talent. That’s my top priority, to recruit some of the best talent in the industry to come back and then to rejoin or join Intel,” he said. REUTERS
