Intel has announced a significant leadership reshuffle across its core product divisions, appointing new heads for its data center, client computing, and central engineering groups while confirming the upcoming departure of longtime executive Michelle Johnston Holthaus.

Kevork Kechichian, formerly a senior executive at Arm, has joined Intel as executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group. He will oversee Intel's data center business, including the Xeon processor line, as the company seeks to regain share in a market now dominated by NVIDIA's AI-driven growth.

Jim Johnson, a 40-year Intel veteran, has been appointed senior vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group after serving in the role on an interim basis. Johnson will continue leading Intel's PC and edge computing efforts.

The company also established a new Central Engineering Group, led by Srinivasan (Srini) Iyengar, who joined Intel in June from Cadence Design Systems. Iyengar will head horizontal engineering functions and expand Intel's custom silicon business for external customers.

In addition, Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president and chief technology and operations officer of Intel Foundry, will expand his role to include Foundry Services, creating a more integrated model spanning R&D, manufacturing, and go-to-market operations.

Meanwhile, Holthaus, who has served at Intel for more than three decades in roles including interim co-CEO, general manager of the Client Computing Group, and chief revenue officer, will step down. She will remain a strategic advisor in the coming months to support a smooth transition.

CEO Lip-Bu Tan said the appointments reflect Intel's broader transformation agenda. "Kevork, Jim, and Srini are exceptional leaders whose deep technical acumen and industry relationships will be instrumental as we continue building a new Intel," Tan noted, emphasizing the company's focus on execution and innovation as it works to strengthen its competitive position in AI and data center markets.