Intel reduced its senior management ranks as CEO Lip-Bu Tan pushes to simplify the chipmaker’s organisation and speed up decision-making. The company reduced its vice-president ranks from about 450 at their peak to roughly 200, according to Intel CFO David Zinsner.
The tech giant also reduced its management layers from 12 to six. Zinsner disclosed the figures while discussing Intel’s restructuring and execution at the Deutsche Bank Technology Conference.
The restructuring forms part of Tan’s broader effort to remove organisational bottlenecks. Zinsner said the earlier structure gave too many people the ability to block decisions, slowing product development and execution.
According to Zinsner, “Intel sometimes needed four or five development cycles before products were ready, rather than moving successfully through the initial development stage. He linked the delays to what he described as a cultural problem within the company.”
Intel’s official filings also show that the company simplified its organisational structure during 2025. The changes were designed to reduce management layers, improve transparency and accountability, and give technical teams greater authority over decision-making.
Zinsner also highlighted transparency as a major issue under Intel’s previous structure. He said information could change as it moved through management levels, meaning senior executives did not always receive the same picture that teams closer to a project had.
Tan plans to address this by bringing in leaders experienced in operating with leaner organisational structures. The company is also placing greater emphasis on faster decisions and direct communication across teams.
The management overhaul comes as Intel works to improve its manufacturing and product execution. Intel also reported progress on its 18A and 14A process technologies. Looking ahead, Zinsner said that several products progressed through their initial A-stepping stage.
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