SANTA CLARA, CA — On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) tapped Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, ending a four-year rollercoaster under Pat Gelsinger that saw the chipmaker’s market cap shrivel to $89.5 billion—down from $250 billion in 2021. Shares leapt 12% in after-hours trading, hitting $23.70 from $21.14, as Tan, a former Cadence Design Systems CEO and ex-Intel board member, steps in to halt the slide. “We need to double down where we’re strong and leapfrog where we’re behind,” Tan said on Intel’s site, signaling a bold pivot after Gelsinger’s ouster in December.
From Chaos to Tan: A Leadership Reset
Tan’s the fourth permanent CEO in seven years, following Brian Krzanich (ousted 2018 over an employee affair), Bob Swan (2019-2021), and Gelsinger (2021-2024). Gelsinger’s foundry dream—making chips for others alongside Intel’s own—fizzled as product revenue tanked 30% since 2021 ($43B then, $30B now, per filings) and CapEx soared ($20B Ohio plant). Interim co-CEOs David Zinsner and MJ Holthaus steadied the ship since December; now Zinsner’s back to CFO, Holthaus to products. “Lip-Bu’s proven he can create value,” interim chair Frank Yeary said, eyeing a rebound.
AI Stumbles and Nvidia’s Rise
Intel’s AI lag—Nvidia’s GPUs dominate training (80% market share, per IDC)—and 7nm chip delays (2023 vs. TSMC’s 2020) fueled its 60% stock drop in 2024. Nvidia’s $2.8T valuation towers over Intel’s $89.5B; November’s Dow Jones swap (Nvidia in, Intel out) cemented the shift. Tan, who led Cadence’s stock up 1,200% from 2001-2018, inherits a $130B contract backlog—excluding Trump’s Stargate AI deal—and a January forecast warning of “seasonality” and tariffs (25% Canada/Mexico, 10% China). X posts muse, “Tan’s a legend—can he out-AI Nvidia?”
What’s Next for Intel in 2025?
Tan’s playbook: juice AI chips (Gaudi 3 lags Nvidia’s H100, per AnandTech), slash costs (10% layoffs in 2024 hit), and maybe spin off the foundry or PC/server units—Qualcomm sniffed around last fall, per Bloomberg. Monday’s $750B tech rout and iRobot’s 30% plunge show the stakes; Intel’s $16B CapEx bet needs wins. Will Tan reclaim $100B+ valuation, or just stabilize? With Eutelsat’s 390% surge and MGX’s $2B Binance play, tech’s wild—Tan’s first moves post-Q1 earnings (April) will tell. Stay tuned!
