Editorial Note: Having covered Pat Gelsinger at VMware events over the past few years, Intel is definitely going to see some big changes once Gelsinger joins them again. For VMware, this move could potentially have an interesting impact on how the company grows in 2021. VMware is a strong market leader, and the search for their next CEO is not going to be an easy task indeed. At the same time, analysts are saying that this departure could accelerate the spinoff of VMware, which Gelsinger was a proponent of.
In what is probably the biggest tech industry news of the year so far, Intel released a statement stating that its board of directors has appointed 40-year technology industry leader Pat Gelsinger as its new chief executive officer, effective Feb. 15, 2021. Gelsinger will also join the Intel board of directors upon assuming the role. He will succeed Bob Swan, who will remain CEO until Feb. 15.
Gelsinger, who was previously at Intel before joining VMware in 2012, also released a statement saying, “To come back “home” to Intel in the role of CEO during what is such a critical time for innovation, as we see the digitisation of everything accelerating, will be the greatest honour of my career. I have tremendous regard for the company’s rich history and the powerful technologies created here that have transformed, and continue to transform, the world’s digital infrastructure. We have incredible talent and remarkable technical expertise that is the envy of the industry.”
During his time as the CEO of VMware, Gelsinger significantly transformed the company into a recognised global leader in cloud infrastructure, enterprise mobility and cybersecurity, almost tripling the company’s annual revenues. Prior to joining VMware, Gelsinger was president and chief operating officer of EMC Information Infrastructure Products at EMC, overseeing engineering and operations for information storage, data computing, backup and recovery, RSA security and enterprise solutions.
Before joining EMC, he spent 30 years at Intel, becoming the company’s first chief technology officer and driving the creation of key industry technologies such as USB and Wi-Fi. He was the architect of the original 80486 processor, led 14 different microprocessor programs and played key roles in the Core and Xeon families.
VMware also released a statement stating that Zane Rowe, VMware’s chief financial officer, has been appointed Interim CEO. Gelsinger will continue to serve on the VMware Board of Directors.
Michael Dell, VMware Chairman of the Board, said, “As CEO for the past eight years, Pat led the company’s tremendous growth and expansion and built a solid foundation for future innovation. Zane has been a key strategic partner to Pat during this time of growth. His deep knowledge of the company and strong relationships will lead the team well through the transition period.”
VMware’s Board of Directors is initiating a global executive search process to name a permanent CEO, led by Paul Sagan, Lead Independent VMware Board Member and Chair of the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee. “VMware’s business is in good hands with a proven, experienced management team, and the company’s strategic priorities are aligned with what enterprise customers require in these unprecedented times,” commented Sagan.