Intel Executive Vice President Sean Maloney retires

Following news about AMD executives leaving the company, we now have a story about Sean Maloney, Intel executive vice president and chairman of Intel China. He announced he's leaving the the company in January to go on retirement. Maloney, 56, joined the chip giant in 1982 and is now looking forward to spend more time with his family.

Thought to be a potential candidate to become Intel's next CEO, Maloney was a driving force behind the company's mobile strategy and the WiMAX participation. In February 2010, Maloney suffered a stroke that took away his speech, but he made a remarkable recovery and took up his job again in September 2011.

Intel Corporation today announced that Sean Maloney, Intel executive vice president and chairman of Intel China, plans to retire in January.

"I am very proud of my 30 years at Intel," said Maloney. "Through those years I've had the honor of working with some of the most brilliant minds in the world, from Andy Grove to Paul Otellini, and on the most cutting-edge technology. I worked on three continents and saw the world as a representative of Intel. I saw firsthand the astonishing growth and potential of China and the Asian region."

Maloney, 56, is a veteran of the semiconductor industry. He joined Intel in 1982 and has held a number of senior management positions with the company during his career. Most recently, he served as the first chairman of Intel China. In this role, he has been responsible for the implementation of an Intel-wide strategy for long-term success in China as well as leadership development for Intel China's management team. He has lived in Beijing since July 2011. Previously, he served as co-general manager of the Intel Architecture Group and chief sales and marketing officer.

"Intel will always be part of my life, and I feel privileged to have been one of the company's leaders," Maloney said. "I look forward to my retirement and spending more time with my family. Intel is full of the best and brightest people I have ever known."

"Sean is a well-known visionary for Intel and the computing industry," said Otellini, president and CEO of Intel. "In the '90s he identified the impact Asia would have as a technology market as well as an innovation hub for the industry, and last year he unveiled Intel's efforts to re-invent computing with Ultrabook devices. He leaves a major mark on Intel and the industry, and I wish Sean and his family well as they move on to the next chapter in his life."

In February 2010, Maloney suffered a stroke and took a medical leave of absence from Intel. His arduous path to regain his speech and make a full physical recovery inspired Intel employees and countless others.

Maloney began his Intel career in the company's European headquarters where he spent 9 years in management roles in applications engineering, sales and marketing. From 1992 to 1995, he served as technical assistant to Grove, Intel's chairman and CEO. In 1995, Maloney moved to Hong Kong to manage Intel's sales and marketing activities in Asia Pacific and returned to the United States in 1998 to become head of Intel's worldwide sales organization. Three years later he took over as head of Intel Communications Group and became co-manager of the Intel Mobility Group in 2004.