Randhir Thakur, senior VP and president of Intel Foundry Companies (IFS), is leaving after a rollercoaster journey to show Intel right into a world-class methods foundry. Whereas on the helm of Intel’s IDM 2.0 drive, he just lately expressed hope that IFS will eclipse Samsung’s foundry enterprise by 2030.
Thakur, a semiconductor trade veteran with stints at Marvell, SanDisk and Utilized Supplies, joined Intel in 2017 and has been main the corporate’s foundry enterprise since early 2021, when it was renamed Intel Foundry Companies. Intel’s spokesperson William Moss has acknowledged his position in laying the inspiration of the corporate’s fab enterprise.
Determine 1 Thakur has proactively labored to bolster the foundry ecosystem constructed round IFS choices. Supply: Intel
Over the past yr or so, to Thakur’s credit score, IFS has consistently been within the information for inking offers with EDA homes, taking design toolsets to the cloud, constructing strategic partnerships with semiconductor IP suppliers and extra. Not too long ago, IFS claimed to have elevated engagement with seven out of 10 high fabless firms. Although solely MediaTek has publicly acknowledged its liaison with IFS.
IFS has additionally introduced a contract win with the U.S. Division of Protection for the Speedy Assured Microelectronics Prototypes – Industrial (RAMP-C) program. So, looking back, IFS appears to have made all the fitting strikes since its inception.
On the similar time, it’s additionally a indisputable fact that IFS is making little cash. Within the third quarter of 2022, IFS generated $171 million, which amounted to roughly 1.1% of the corporate’s $15.3 billion in income. Nonetheless, analysts and trade watchers are relating this growth to Intel’s $5.4 billion acquisition of Israeli fab Tower Semiconductor, which is about to finish in February 2023. In accordance with Intel CEO Pat Pat Gelsinger, Thakur will keep at IFS till the primary quarter of 2023 to make sure a easy transition.
Patrick Moorhead, chief analyst at Moor Insights & Technique, says that Thakur’s departure doesn’t appear efficiency associated. In a tweet, Moore sees this alteration of guards linked to the upcoming Tower acquisition. Tower makes a speciality of fabrication of analog semiconductor parts for automotive, medical, industrial, shopper, aerospace, and protection.
Determine 2 Trade observers are principally relating Thakur’s departure to Tower Semiconductor acquisition. Supply: Intel
Semiconductors contract manufacturing is a troublesome nut to crack, so after multiple yr of proactive gamesmanship, Intel appears to be leaning on Tower’s foundry enterprise experience and studying curve as an alternative of ranging from a clear slate. Particularly when Tower is understood to have carefully aligned its know-how roadmaps with buyer merchandise.
Gelsinger says that the details about the brand new IFS chief can be shared quickly. That additionally hints towards the chance that Tower’s administration will take the reins of Intel’s foundry enterprise.
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