Intel appoints CTO after 33 years in business

For the first time in its history, Intel appointed one of its top executives

as the company's chief technology officer (CTO), a position that has been common

at high-tech companies in Silicon Valley.

Patrick Gelsinger, who has been with Intel since 1979, will be the company's

CTO, a position from which he will coordinate Intel's long-term research

activities. Most recently Gelsinger served as the chief technology officer for

Intel's architecture group, which oversees the company's

microprocessor operations. The new CTO position will add responsibilities in

the areas of ICs for communications, portable and business computing, and

wired/wireless networking.

Intel, of course has always been lead by top-notch technologists, including

Robert Noyes, Gordon Moore, Andy Grove and now Craig Barrett, eliminating the

need for a CTO. But during the past three years, Intel has vastly broadened the

scope of products and technologies it is involved in,

including networking and communications. "The convergence of digital

computing and communications requires the coordination of many of Intel's

technology and research efforts at a high level," said Intel president and

chief executive Craig Barrett.