Intel has named semiconductor industry veteran Randhir Thakur to lead its newly formed foundry business.
Intel has announced plans to build a world-class foundry business and become a major provider of U.S.- and European-based capacity to serve customers globally. To deliver this vision, the company established Intel Foundry Services (IFS) – a fully vertical, standalone foundry business.
Thakur will serve as senior vice president and the president of Intel Foundry Services and report to Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger.
“Randhir is a semiconductor industry veteran, having served in executive leadership roles spanning global manufacturing and supply chains, research and development, and managing profitable businesses. He is devoted to exceptional customer service and is the right leader to grow our foundry business, ” said Pat Gelsinger, CEO, Intel.
“I am excited to be of service and drive Pat’s vision for the foundry business. Intel’s leading-edge process and packaging technology, broad portfolio of IP, combined with our commitments to the U.S. and European market positions us for a new era of foundry services. Working closely with customers, ecosystem partners, governments and our Intel colleagues, we will deploy the strength of Intel to drive the next level of semiconductor innovation,” said Dr. Randhir Thakur, president, Intel Foundry Services.
Randhir Thakur earned a bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, in India; a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada; and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Thakur is an IEEE Fellow who has served in a number of executive industry roles.
Thakur joined Intel in 2017, bringing 30 years of experience as a hands-on innovator and business leader with expertise in global manufacturing, research and development, and profitable P&L management. Thakur joined Intel as corporate vice president of Global Supply Management, expanding his role to chief supply chain officer in 2020.
Under Thakur’s leadership, Intel Foundry Services will lead the development and growth of Intel’s new foundry business, a significant element of Intel’s IDM 2.0 strategy, a major evolution of Intel’s integrated device manufacturing (IDM) model.
Intel is planning to spend US$20 billion to build two new factories (or fabs) in Arizona.