In a scathing critique published in Fortune magazine, former Intel CEO Craig Barrett has denounced the company's proposed breakup plans while advocating for dramatic leadership changes.
Barrett, who led Intel from 1998 to 2005, called the potential split of Intel and sale of divisions to TSMC "the dumbest idea around." He argued this move would waste the technical progress achieved under Pat Gelsinger's recent leadership.
According to Barrett, Intel has finally caught up with TSMC at the 2nm node level after years of falling behind. He praised Gelsinger's work in revitalizing Intel's technology development, particularly highlighting advancements in the 18A process node and innovations like backside power delivery.
Instead of dismantling the company, Barrett proposed a bold alternative: remove the current board members and bring back Gelsinger to "finish the job he has aptly handled over the past few years."
The former CEO directed sharp criticism at the present board, sarcastically describing them as "two academics and two former government bureaucrats." He placed responsibility for Intel's decade-long struggles directly on the board's decisions.
While Barrett opposes a complete breakup, he supports internally separating Intel's design and foundry operations, provided the foundry remains under Intel ownership. He emphasized that the company should concentrate on customer service, fair pricing, and guaranteed manufacturing capacity.
Barrett warned that splitting and selling parts of Intel would only create unnecessary complications. Drawing from his industry experience, he stressed that developing cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing takes considerable time and expertise - advantages that Intel is just beginning to reclaim under its current structure.
The timing of Barrett's commentary comes as Intel faces critical decisions about its future direction and organizational structure in an increasingly competitive semiconductor landscape.