Intel Corporation announced on Wednesday that Justin Hotard will assume the role of head of its data center group, succeeding Sandra Rivera, who is set to lead the company’s new standalone programmable chip business.
Hotard’s appointment comes as Intel aims to navigate challenges in its data center segment, one of the company’s largest and most lucrative divisions, generating $11 billion in profits during the first nine months of the year. Despite its historical dominance, Intel has been facing increased competition, particularly from rivals such as AMD and Nvidia. This heightened competition, coupled with a business spending slowdown, contributed to a nearly 25% decline in Intel’s data center revenue for the current year.
Sandra Rivera, Hotard’s predecessor, is set to spearhead Intel’s venture into the standalone programmable chip business, marking a strategic move for the company.
In addressing these challenges, Intel remains optimistic, banking on the potential of new classes of semiconductors to enhance its competitiveness, particularly in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence within the data center.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger expressed confidence in Hotard, stating, “Justin is committed to our vision to create world-changing technologies and passionate about the critical role Intel will play in empowering our customers for decades to come.”
Prior to joining Intel, Hotard held the position of vice president of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence at Hewlett Packard. Additionally, he served as the head of Hewlett Packard Labs. Hotard is scheduled to assume his new role at Intel on February 1, bringing his expertise to the forefront as Intel strives to maintain its leadership in the dynamic and competitive landscape of data center technology.
