Lip-Bu Tan: A Profile of the Newly Appointed Intel CEO
Lip-Bu Tan is an American business executive who was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) effective March 18, 2025. He also serves as the Chairman of Walden International, a venture capital firm, a Founding Managing Partner of Walden Catalyst Ventures and Celesta Capital, and holds numerous board positions.
Early Life and Education
Lip-Bu Tan was born on November 12, 1959, in Muar, Johor, in the previous Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) to an ethnic Chinese family in Malaysia. His father, Keng Lian Tan, was the chief editor of the Malaysian Chinese-language daily newspaper Nanyang Siang Pau and his mother, Yeok Choong Chew, was a university warden at Nanyang Technological University.
Tan's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. He also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of San Francisco and an honorary degree for Doctor of Science and Technology from Carnegie Mellon University.
Venture Capital Career
Tan is a well-known investment businessman. With over 35 years of venture capital experience, Tan focuses on semiconductor, cloud infrastructure, data management, security, and AI. In 2001, Forbes dubbed Tan "the pioneer of Asian VC." The company grew from $3 million upon its founding to $5 billion by 2001 by focusing its investments in Asian tech startups. Tan has focused on global technology investments primarily in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and software.
Tan is Founder and Chairman of Walden International and Founding Managing Partner of Celesta Capital and Walden Catalyst Ventures, with over $5 billion under management.
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Cadence Design Systems
In February 2004, the Cadence Design Systems board of directors elected Tan to the board. Tan became interim co-CEO of Cadence in October 2008. Tan served as CEO of Cadence Design Systems from 2009 to 2021, where he led a reinvention of the company and drove a cultural transformation centered on customer-centric innovation. During his time as CEO, Cadence more than doubled its revenue, expanded operating margins and delivered a stock price appreciation of more than 3,200%. Tan served as a member of the Cadence board of directors for 19 years, from his appointment in 2004 through his service as executive chairman from 2021 to 2023 following his tenure as CEO.
Intel CEO Appointment
Intel announced on Wednesday that it had appointed Lip-Bu Tan as its new chief executive officer effective March 18, 2025. In addition to becoming the CEO, he will also re-join the BOD. He succeeds Interim Co-CEOs David Zinsner and Michelle (MJ) Johnston Holthaus. Zinsner will remain executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Johnston Holthaus will remain CEO of Intel Products. Frank D. Yeary, who took on the role of interim executive chair of the board during the search for a new CEO, will revert to being the independent chair of the board upon Tan becoming CEO.
Tan served Intel's board of directors from 2022 to August 2024, when he left allegedly due to disagreements over the company's strategic direction. He was among people who were publicly considered for the role.
Yeary said, "Lip-Bu is an exceptional leader whose technology industry expertise, deep relationships across the product and foundry ecosystems, and proven track record of creating shareholder value is exactly what Intel needs in its next CEO."
On his appointment, Tan said, “I am honored to join Intel as CEO. I have tremendous respect and admiration for this iconic company, and I see significant opportunities to remake our business in ways that serve our customers better and create value for our shareholders."
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Current Board Positions and Affiliations
Currently, Tan is on the boards of Intel, Schneider Electric, and Credo Technology Group.
Tan currently serves on Carnegie Mellon's Board of Trustees and the School of Engineering Dean’s Council, MIT’s School of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering Advisory Board and College of Computing, Data Science, and Engineering Advisory Board, UCSF's Executive Council, and Fuller Theological Seminary’s Board of Trustees.
Awards and Recognition
In August 2022, Tan received the Robert N. Noyce Award, the Semiconductor Industry Association’s highest honor. He is also to be honored with the 2025 Phil Kaufman Award by SEMI.
Personal Life
Tan is an American citizen and lives in Piedmont, California, with his wife Ysa Loo. They have two grown children.
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