Pat Gelsinger

Pat Gelsinger is an American business executive and engineer who serves as the chief executive officer of Intel Corporation. He first joined the semiconductor giant in 1979 and became its first chief technology officer, playing a key role in the development of iconic products like the 80486 microprocessor. After a notable tenure leading VMware, he returned to lead Intel in 2021, launching an ambitious transformation strategy to restore the company's manufacturing and technological leadership amid intense global competition.

Early life and education

Born in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, he grew up on a dairy farm and developed an early interest in technology. He attended Lincoln University before transferring to complete his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Santa Clara University in 1983. He later earned a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1985, balancing his studies with his growing responsibilities at Intel.

Career at Intel

He began his career at Intel as a quality control technician in 1979 while still a student. He rose rapidly through the engineering ranks, contributing to the design of the 80386 and 80486 microprocessors. In 1990, he was named the first vice president of the Desktop Products Group and later became the company's first chief technology officer in 2001. During this period, he was a key architect of technologies like USB and Wi-Fi, and he helped steer Intel's strategy during the dot-com bubble.

Tenure at VMware

After a 30-year career at Intel, he left in 2009 to become president and chief operating officer at EMC Corporation. In 2012, he was appointed chief executive officer of VMware, a subsidiary of EMC and a leader in cloud computing and virtualization software. Under his leadership, VMware significantly expanded its product portfolio, forged major partnerships with companies like AWS and Microsoft, and navigated its spin-off from Dell Technologies as an independent public company.

Return to Intel as CEO

He returned to Intel as CEO in February 2021, succeeding Bob Swan. He immediately launched the IDM 2.0 strategy, a multi-billion dollar plan to expand Intel's manufacturing capacity and compete directly with TSMC and Samsung Electronics in the semiconductor foundry business. Key initiatives include major fab construction projects in Arizona, Ohio, and Germany, the creation of Intel Foundry Services, and a push to regain process leadership through nodes like Intel 20A and Intel 18A. His tenure is defined by navigating the global chip shortage, intense competition from AMD and Nvidia, and securing funding from the CHIPS and Science Act.

Personal life and recognition

He is married to Linda Gelsinger and has four children. A devout Christian, he has co-authored books on faith and technology and is active in philanthropic efforts. His recognitions include being named a Fellow of the IEEE, receiving the IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal, and being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He also serves on the board of the Semiconductor Industry Association and has been a vocal advocate for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing policy.

Category:American chief executives Category:Intel people Category:1961 births Category:Living people