AMD's CEO Steps Down

[SRTDodge05]

AMD CEO Hector Ruiz will be replaced by Dirk Meyer

AMD has seen its share of ups and downs over the years, but the company has had it especially hard ever since its acquisition of ATI Technologies in 2006. Since then, the company has experienced numerous quarters of losses, announced job cuts, and has watched as top executives abandoned the chip giant.
Most recently, AMD announced that it would take another $880 million USD charge due to the poor performance of ATI's Consumer electronics division.

Today, AMD CEO Hector Ruiz stepped down from his position with the company. Ruiz joined the company in January 2000 and became CEO in April 2002. Ruiz will be replaced by the current Number 2 in charge, Dirk Meyer. Ruiz will stay on as the executive chairman of AMD's Board of Directors.

DailyTech - AMD's CEO Steps Down

[sammy2066]

This is not looking good for AMD. Ever since the ATI acquisition, and the Conroe launch, things have been looking pretty bleak for AMD. I really do hope they make a stellar comeback, that way the consumers will see more competition and even lower prices.

[Sandog]

ATI would have been where its at now if AMD hadn't purchased it but would AMD be where its at now? Will Fusion ever appear from AMD and be a great chip? I still remember clearly how AMD behaved before and after Conroe came out and think AMD bought ATI as a way of distracting its attention from Conroe. I think AMD is doomed. All they have going is Barcelona with a terrible reputation going to 45nm which Intel is already solidly there and the new Barcy still won't compete with Nehalem. Also Intels 32nm die shrink is around the corner and power consumption is becoming the major selling point. Surprisingly Intel is also keeping selling prices realistic at least from a performance perspective.

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by Sandog

ATI would have been where its at now if AMD hadn't purchased it but would AMD be where its at now? Will Fusion ever appear from AMD and be a great chip? I still remember clearly how AMD behaved before and after Conroe came out and think AMD bought ATI as a way of distracting its attention from Conroe. I think AMD is doomed. All they have going is Barcelona with a terrible reputation going to 45nm which Intel is already solidly there and the new Barcy still won't compete with Nehalem. Also Intels 32nm die shrink is around the corner and power consumption is becoming the major selling point. Surprisingly Intel is also keeping selling prices realistic at least from a performance perspective.

I tend to think all AMD has to do is hang in there----and keep their price point so that it is a viable alternative for big system builders....

Yes they will be slower----but if they are still "decent" chips and average $100-200 cheaaper----the big system builders will continue to buy a TON of them.

Now how low can they go and still be profitable....ah---that is the question...

But the new Spider platform from AMD using all AMD stuff----just ain't half bad-----I just built one and was impressed....Great performance from a sytem that was approximately $200 less than a competing Intel.

Was it faster-----NO----was it an excellent value---YES.....

And ATI has just put out a seriously good set of Vid cards in their 4800 series that are just down right cheap in comparison to what the competition offers....I now have both a 4850 and a 4870 and am just plain impressed.....

I also feel as the convergance towards graphics onboard the CPU continues-----AMD has a nice deal going----their 780G stuff is far better than Intel's.

If AMD can hang in there for a few more years----they will be fine.....

It's nvidia that I think needs to worry----Long Term......

Talk about odd man out........

[ctal]

Here's an interesting perspective on Hector Ruiz's tenure as CEO:

The Man Who Killed AMD? . . .

I don't necessarily agree, however, with his basic point that Jerry Sanders made a "colossal mistake" in the early days by selling clones of Intel cpu's, rather than developing his own. It could well have been that that was the only practicable and affordable way for them to get into the business. And if I recall correctly, during their very early years, before they got into cpu's, their main business was manufacturing and selling simpler chips that had been developed by others. They threw in military-spec testing for free, even for commercial-grade parts, as one of their main selling points.

Regards,
-- Al

[Sandog]

I agree with the end. Use Hectors big mouth to support the lawsuits against Intel.

For all the good AMD has done I salute them but lying like they did to cover up their mistakes with Barcelona and saying their coming out with 10 million different products is as low as technical company can get. Now AMD will focus on being ambulance chasers in court.

[ctal]

Here's an excellent article profiling Jerry Sanders, written in 2001 (shortly before he handed the reins to Hector), which covers some of AMD's early history and its relations with Intel:

PROFILE / Jerry Sanders / Silicon Valley's tough guy

I saw a flowchart a few months ago, I think in the IEEE Spectrum, showing how AMD, Intel, and a great many other well known semiconductor companies were all originally formed by ex-employees of Fairchild Semiconductor.

Regards,
-- Al

[bajo]

well, after tha athlon fame was gone, all went downhill fast ...

[Kedas]

Getting rid of himself, that must be "asset light" strategy he talked about.