R.I.P. Paul Otellini

[DrMrLordX]

https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/03/former-intel-ceo-paul-otellini-dies/

Died in his sleep. Some folks weren't all that fond of him, but he did preside over Intel coming to dominate the desktop market as they drove several nails into what could have been a permanent coffin for AMD. Many would prefer him over Krzanich.

Either way, talk about the end of an era . . .

 

[Arachnotronic]

https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/03/former-intel-ceo-paul-otellini-dies/

Died in his sleep. Some folks weren't all that fond of him, but he did preside over Intel coming to dominate the desktop market as they drove several nails into what could have been a permanent coffin for AMD. Many would prefer him over Krzanich.

Either way, talk about the end of an era . . .

Otellini and Krzanich are not even in the same league. Otellini made some strategic errors (mainly messing up mobile), but in general he was on an entirely different plane compared to Krzanich.

 

[Phynaz]

There's some truly hateful posts in the Anandtech comments section. Hopefully those don't make it here.

He died much too young, I'm sorry that he didn't get to enjoy the fruits of everything he seeded in the semiconductor industry.

 

[Arachnotronic]

It's amazing to think about all the advancements he was involved in with intel since 1974. The amount of IP and wealth generated by all of those products for Intel, it's share holders and the rest of the world.

Intel built much of the computing nirvana that we live in today, both client side (PCs) and in the data center (mobile revolution would not be possible without all those Intel-based servers powering the web).

Otellini was the man who got Intel back into a leadership position in client PC processors and laid the groundwork for the near total dominance of the data center chip market that Intel enjoys today.

He was, on the whole, a strong leader for Intel.

It is also sad to think that his "surprise" retirement was probably, now that we know what we know, due to health issues. He probably didn't want to publicize them, but instead quietly exit the stage and enjoy whatever time he had left.

He will be missed.

 

[esquared]

This is a condolence thread.
If you can't say something respectful, stay out of the thread.
I have cleaned up this thread. Next ones will be vacationed.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[Phynaz]

An excellent article on his accomplishments - and failures:

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2038406/intel-ceos-legacy-pc-glory-smartphone-grief.html

 

[Dayman1225]

Sigh, A loss of a great leader for Intel, with no technical background(I did not know this until recently), BK can't even come close.


Some of the comments I seen on Reddit and other articles about his death were despicable, I even seen a submission on /r/amd say

"Paul S. Otellini, 1950 - 2017.. The guy who tried to ruin competitive cpu market dies at 66"

 

[Arachnotronic]

Sigh, A loss of a great leader for Intel, with no technical background(I did not know this until recently), BK can't even come close.

Paul O. was in the trenches for so long and held so many important product/architecture focused roles on his rise through the ranks that he understood the technology and the market very well.

BK never had a role on his way up involving architecture or the products. Just a factory guy (and not even deep in the process tech development side, that was Bill Holt).

 

[Dayman1225]

BK never had a role on his way up involving architecture or the products.

That's quite clear from his leadership, constantly missing deadlines, unenthusiastic, doesn't seem proud to run the company that is Intel, he seems checked out. I hope he either gets replaced before he undoes all that Paul O did, or he wakes up and becomes a true leader.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Sad day. Dont want to go off topic, but I *really* dont understand the hate for intel and its leadership. They may have done questionable or even some underhanded business dealings, but without them we would be far, far less advanced in the computing/internet field than we are now.

 

[Arachnotronic]

Sad day. Dont want to go off topic, but I *really* dont understand the hate for intel and its leadership. They may have done questionable or even some underhanded business dealings, but without them we would be far, far less advanced in the computing/internet field than we are now.

People are jealous of success and that jealousy translates into a desire to see the successful entity fail. All the great companies like Intel, Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Qualcomm, TSMC, etc. have their share of haters for this reason.

Paul Otellini was given the reigns to a successful company, but he took it to an entirely new level, just as Tim Cook did for Apple when Steve Jobs passed. A job well done.

 

[Jan Olšan]

RIP.
It's sad that he didn't even get to enjoy mere four years of retirement. Life can end so suddenly...
No idea if this was some sickness known back then, but the mention about passing away in his sleep does perhaps sound like he was ill for some time and it was not sudden.

 

[CHADBOGA]

After Andy Grove, I always think of Otellini as the "Face of Intel".

RIP