Intel’s Longtime Tech Chief Ann Kelleher to Retire, New Leaders Appointed to Guide Foundry Strategy

Intel has officially announced the upcoming retirement of Dr. Ann Kelleher, Executive Vice President and Head of Technology Development, who has spent over 30 years shaping the company’s manufacturing innovation. She is expected to step down later this year, marking a major leadership transition just as Intel ramps up production of its 18A process node.

In a statement, Intel called this a “well-planned transition”, noting that with a strong foundry leadership team now in place and the 18A node already in customer hands, the timing was right for Dr. Kelleher’s departure.

New Leadership Structure to Drive Intel’s Foundry Growth

To continue momentum on its “IDM 2.0” and foundry-first strategies, Intel has appointed Naga Chandrasekaran to lead the newly established Foundry Technology and Manufacturing group. He will oversee process technology development and manufacturing operations, combining responsibilities he has held since mid-2024. Chandrasekaran brings deep expertise from his previous role at Micron, where he unified R&D and production teams into a high-efficiency unit.

Intel also named Navid Shahriari as Executive Vice President to head a newly created organization focused on backend manufacturing. This includes assembly and test technology development (ATTD), die manufacturing operations (DMO), assembly and test manufacturing (ATM), and C4 wafer sorting. Shahriari’s appointment is part of Intel’s continued effort to optimize and scale its packaging and backend operations.

A Legacy of Innovation and Leadership

Dr. Ann Kelleher played a pivotal role in rebuilding Intel’s Technology Development organization, enabling the execution of CEO Pat Gelsinger’s ambitious “5 nodes in 4 years” (5N4Y) roadmap. Under her leadership, Intel achieved critical progress in 18A development, including its readiness for internal and external customers, positioning Intel to re-enter the leading edge of semiconductor manufacturing.

In the months leading up to her retirement, Kelleher will transition into a strategic advisory role, offering guidance on differentiated technologies, packaging standards, software strategy, and capacity expansion across U.S. and European fabs.

The Road Ahead for Intel Foundry

Intel’s 18A node—which incorporates RibbonFET transistors and PowerVia backside power delivery—is seen as a turning point in the company’s foundry business. Reports suggest that Intel has already completed development of 18A-P, 3-E, and 3-PT nodes, extending the company’s roadmap and expanding its Intel 3 platform. Intel has also reached major milestones in its 14A (1.4nm) node development, targeting future competitiveness with industry leaders like TSMC and Samsung.

With these leadership transitions, Intel is positioning itself to accelerate its resurgence as a global foundry powerhouse, aiming to deliver cutting-edge process nodes for both its internal product lines and external foundry clients.