Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is expected to name the potential successor of its current chief executive officer Paul Otellini, who will be retiring from Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) during the upcoming annual meeting of the company on May 16.
Analysts from RBC Capital Markets emphasized that the leadership change in Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) will be the biggest change in the history of the company over the past ten years. The change is also important for the semiconductor industry because Intel is the largest supplier, representing 14% of total sales. The leadership change within the chip maker is expected to reshape the industry.
According to analysts Doug Freedman and Earl Hege, the next CEO of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) should have a plan in place to boost the newer growth initiatives where Intel is well-positioned, which is mobile and software. They believe that the new CEO should have a disruptive plan for these new growth initiatives.
Freedman and Hege believe that a deep understanding of the PC market will no longer provide the candidate with an advantage in the selection process for the next CEO. According to the analysts, “In our view, the choice of a new leader could depend on who is best suited to grow not one, but all areas in Intel’s efforts in mobile, data center, software, and foundry (should the company succeed in growing the top line).”
According to the analysts, the vision of the company is currently susceptible to change until the announcement of the new CEO. They explained that they are unable to offer conviction for large scale investment. The issue regarding new CEO succession is important in their investment thesis.
The analysts speculated that the selection process of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) for the next CEO could be different this time because of the fact that growth revenues are necessary outside PCs. Before, Intel selected its CEO among executives within the company
RBC Capital Analysts identified some possible candidates, including Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility; Warren East, CEO of ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH) who announced his plan to step down on July 1st; and Pat Gelsinger, CEO and Director of VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW).
Some of the possible candidates from within Intel Corporation include Brian Krzanich, Intel executive VP and COO; Stacy Smith, Intel EVP and CFO; Andy Bryant, Intel chairman; and Renee James, Intel EVP, GM, Software and Services group; David Pelmutter, EVP, GM, Intel Architecture group; and Kirk Skaugen, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s PC Client group.
The analysts recommended an outperform rating and $24 price target for the shares of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC).
