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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Pat Gelsinger retired as Intel CEO effective December 2, 2024, but Intel is not currently without a chief executive: as of October 8, 2026, the company lists Lip-Bu Tan as CEO. For investors, the more consequential question is whether Intel can turn its manufacturing roadmap and foundry ambitions into durable financial results. Its latest reported quarter showed stronger revenue alongside a GAAP loss, while Intel’s own filings identify external customer demand as a condition for some future manufacturing investment.
Who replaced Pat Gelsinger as Intel CEO?
Intel announced on December 2, 2024, that Gelsinger had retired, effective immediately. During the search for a permanent successor, the board appointed CFO David Zinsner and Intel Products leader Michelle (MJ) Johnston Holthaus as interim co-CEOs. Holthaus also became CEO of Intel Products.
The interim appointments were a bridge during the search, not Intel’s current leadership arrangement. Intel’s executive leadership page lists Lip-Bu Tan as CEO and Dave Zinsner as CFO as of October 8, 2026.
Why did Pat Gelsinger leave Intel?
Intel’s December 2024 announcement establishes that Gelsinger retired, but does not give a detailed personal explanation for his decision. It would therefore be speculation to attribute his departure to a particular dispute, performance metric, or personal cause.
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The board’s public comments placed the transition in the context of work still required at the company. Then-chair Frank D. Yeary said in the announcement that Intel had made progress toward manufacturing competitiveness and building a foundry business, but still had “much more work to do” and was committed to restoring investor confidence. That is the board’s stated company context, not a disclosed explanation of Gelsinger’s personal reasons.
What do Intel’s latest results say about its financial position?
Intel’s second-quarter 2026 results, reported July 23, show why a single headline number does not settle the turnaround question. Revenue rose year over year, but the company reported a GAAP loss per share and positive non-GAAP earnings per share. Those earnings figures use different accounting bases and should not be treated as interchangeable.
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| Measure | Intel’s Q2 2026 reported figure | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $16.1 billion, up 25% year over year | Reported quarterly revenue and year-over-year growth. |
| GAAP diluted loss per share attributable to Intel | $(2.16) | Reported under generally accepted accounting principles. |
| Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share | $0.42 | A separate, adjusted measure; it does not erase the GAAP loss. |
| Q3 2026 revenue outlook | $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion | Company guidance, not a realized result. |
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said in the Q2 release that the company was positioned to pursue growth across CPUs, ASICs, advanced packaging, and its wafer foundry network as AI drives demand for compute. That is management’s view of opportunity, not independent confirmation of future demand, market share, or profits. For investors, the reported results and future execution matter more than the optimism of a forecast.
Is Intel still making its own chips?
Yes. Intel’s Q2 2026 Form 10-Q says that its first products built on Intel 18A, then its most advanced leading-edge manufacturing node, entered high-volume production at the start of 2026. This is a dated company disclosure about production status; it does not, by itself, establish manufacturing yields, profitability, or broad customer adoption.
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Intel is also pursuing a foundry business that makes chips for outside customers, alongside manufacturing for its own products. In its 2025 annual report, Intel said it had few external foundry customers to date. It also warned that if it could not secure a significant external customer for Intel 14A, it might pause or discontinue Intel 14A and successor leading-edge technologies. That conditional risk is Intel’s own description of its strategy, not a certainty that the company will stop developing those processes.
What do Intel’s 14A plans mean for the turnaround?
Intel said in its Q2 2026 Form 10-Q that it committed during the quarter to completing Intel 14A development. The company also said the pace of manufacturing expansion would depend on demand from Intel products and design wins from external customers.
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- 20 cores (8 P-cores plus 12 E-cores) and 28 threads. Discrete graphics required
- Up to 5.6 GHz with Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 gives you smooth game play, high frame rates, and rapid responsiveness
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- Progress: Intel reported that its first 18A products entered high-volume production at the start of 2026 and that it committed to completing 14A development.
- Execution test: The company’s disclosures make external customer traction and demand relevant to how quickly it expands manufacturing capacity.
- Remaining uncertainty: The cited disclosures do not establish that Intel has secured the significant 14A customer described in its annual report as important to continuing that process and successors.
These statements show a roadmap and the conditions Intel says will influence investment. They are not independent proof that the roadmap will meet every milestone or produce attractive returns.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Intel adrift now?
“Adrift” is an interpretation, not a fact established by the CEO transition. Intel has a CEO, reported substantial year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 2026, and disclosed progress on 18A production. At the same time, the GAAP loss, the company’s acknowledgment of few external foundry customers to date, and its conditional warning about 14A and successor technologies show that important financial and strategic questions remain.
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- Compatible with Intel 600-series (with potential BIOS update) or 700-series chipset-based motherboards
- DDR4 and DDR5 platform support cuts your load times and gives you the space to run the most demanding games
For a personal-finance reader assessing Intel as an investment, the useful distinction is between management’s plans and demonstrated outcomes. Revenue growth and a manufacturing milestone are evidence of progress; neither alone resolves profitability, customer demand, or the commercial case for future capacity. Intel’s results, subsequent filings, and roadmap updates can change the picture, so any assessment should use the latest company disclosures rather than treating the 2024 leadership announcement as a current crisis.
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