Intel CEO: Hiring Zoom’s COO To Lead HR, Legal Affairs Is ‘Central’ To Our Transformation

Aparna Bawa, who joined Zoom in 2018 and previously served as its chief legal officer, is taking over Intel’s legal and human resources functions in May after they were previously led by two executives, April Miller Boise and Victoria Holroyd-Fogg, respectively.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said that the company’s hiring of Zoom COO Aparna Bawa to serve as its chief legal and people officer is “central” to its transformation, according to a Thursday memo he sent to employees that was seen by CRN.

The memo was sent as the chipmaker announced the hiring of Bawa, who joined Zoom in 2018 and will take over Intel’s legal and human resources functions in May after they were previously led by two executives, April Miller Boise and Victoria Holroyd-Fogg, respectively.

Having overseen “critical operational, legal and people functions during a period of rapid growth and global scale” for Zoom as COO, Bawa will also lead Intel’s ethics and compliance team and serve as an executive vice president, according to the company.

Boise, who has served as Intel’s executive vice president and chief legal officer since 2022, “will be departing Intel to pursue her next chapter, effective June 1,” Tan wrote in the memo.

Holroyd-Fogg had been serving as Intel’s interim chief people officer since her predecessor, Christy Pambianchi, left the chipmaker last year to take the top human resources job at construction giant Caterpillar Inc.

‘The Role Is Central To Intel’s Transformation’

In his memo, Tan said that Bawa “brings deep experience helping global technology companies scale with discipline, integrity and a strong people-first culture.”

“The role is central to Intel’s transformation. As we move with greater speed and accountability, strong legal judgement, clear governance and a high-performance cultural are essential,” he wrote. “Aparna’s ability to align culture, execution and trust will help us build the leadership foundation we need for the next chapter of Intel.”

Tan, who thanked Boise and Holroyd-Fogg for serving in their roles, added that “transitions like these are a natural part of building the leadership team we need for the future.”

“Our priorities remain unchanged: disciplined execution, a strong culture grounded in integrity and inclusion, and a relentless focus on delivering for our customers, partners and shareholders,” he wrote.

Tan has made several changes to the company’s executive leadership team since he joined in March of last year. These changes include the hiring of former Arm executive Kevork Kechichian to lead its data center business, former Trump staffer Robin Colwell as vice president to lead government affairs, and former SambaNova Systems executive Annie Shea Weckesser as chief marketing and communications officer.

Tan has also elevated some executives to become direct reports, including the leaders of Intel’s software and silicon and platform engineering groups. And he consolidated leadership responsibilities for the Intel Foundry contract chip manufacturing business around former Micron executive Naga Chandrasekaran.