Intel has announced that executive vice president and chairman of Intel China Sean Maloney plans to retire this January, after a 30-year run at the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip maker.
Maloney, 56, was long considered to be a potential successor to Intel CEO Paul Otellini. He has been at the helm of Intel's worldwide sales organization, the Intel Communications Group, and was co-manager of the Intel Mobility Group before taking on his role at Intel China. He first joined Intel in 1982.
"Intel will always be part of my life, and I feel privileged to have been one of the company's leaders," Maloney said in a statement. "I look forward to my retirement and spending more time with my family. Intel is full of the best and brightest people I have ever known."
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In February 2010, Maloney suffered a stroke and took a medical leave of absence from Intel. He returned to Intel in January 2011, and his recovery was an inspiration to his colleagues and everyone else who knew him, Intel said.
In addition to being among the first at Intel to recognize the growing importance of China to the IT market, Maloney is also viewed as one of the early pioneers of Ultrabooks, the super-thin notebook PCs Intel launched last year.
"Sean is a well-known visionary for Intel and the computing industry," said Otellini, in a statement. "In the '90s he identified the impact Asia would have as a technology market as well as an innovation hub for the industry, and last year he unveiled Intel's efforts to re-invent computing with Ultrabook devices. He leaves a major mark on Intel and the industry, and I wish Sean and his family well as they move on to the next chapter in his life."
Intel has not announced a replacement for Maloney's role.
PUBLISHED SEPT. 20, 2012
