Aicha Evans, Intel's chief strategy officer, plans to leave the company next month, adding to the list of recent departures from the chip manufacturer's executive ranks. The former general manager of the Santa Clara, California-based company's wireless communications and devices group, Evans is taking over as chief executive of major autonomous car startup Zoox.
Evans, who joined Intel in 2006, is the latest block to fall out of Intel's corporate pyramid. Since 2017, the company has had to replace its chief financial officer (Stacy Smith), data center president (Diane Bryant), chief operating officer (Kim Stevenson), and senior vice president of its manufacturing unit (Sohail Ahmed), among others. The changes are happening as Intel attempts to reduce its dependence on personal computers.
The company continues to mull over possible replacements for former chief executive Brian Krzanich. He resigned last year after Intel uncovered an inappropriate workplace relationship. He also stepped down from the board, which replaced him with Robert Swan, Intel's chief financial officer. Intel could end up filling the position during fourth quarter earnings at the end of the month. Swan is not planning to hold the job permanently.
Before she was promoted to chief strategy officer last year, Evans headed the company's communications unit, which is focused on the development of cellular modems and other radio frequency technologies. Her highest profile win came when Apple started using Intel's modems in some 2016 iPhones. Last year, Apple expanded its use of the company's cellular chips to the entire iPhone lineup, sending modem sales soaring.