Intel’s big week: Where’s the CEO?

Intel CEO Paul Otellini will miss IDF because of his sabbatical. Photo: Intel

It’s Intel’s biggest event of the year. So where’s the CEO?

That was my first question when I took a close look at the agenda for this week’s Intel (INTC) Developer Forum in San Francisco, where the world’s largest chipmaker rallies the technology industry behind its products and previews its roadmap. Paul Otellini was nowhere to be found. Was he off closing a big business deal? Is there trouble with Intel’s board of directors?

Neither, an Intel spokesperson tells me. Otellini is merely on sabbatical, a perk employees earn for every seven years of service. (He took four of his eight weeks of sabbatical leave last year, and is taking the other four now.) Intel Chairman Craig Barrett will give Tuesday’s IDF opening keynote instead.

I also found it odd that Sean Maloney, an Intel executive vice president who’s widely seen as a potential Otellini successor, won’t be at IDF either. I’m told he’s in China at the Olympics. In the absence of these two, senior vice president Pat Gelsinger will handle many of the nuts-and-bolts questions about operations.

Two conspicuous absences, two solid explanations. But if the company makes big purchases or executive moves anytime soon, Intel watchers may reflect on this IDF agenda differently.

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Sean Maloney is widely seen as Paul Otellini’s replacement??? Be very afraid Intel people…Very afraid!!!
Everything Sean touches turns to pewter not gold…I see somethings never change. Screw up to move up…

Posted By Joe, Parsippany, NJ : August 26, 2008 11:06 am

NVDA 28 all cash

Posted By flynyny : August 19, 2008 7:41 am

Your imagination is blurring your judgement! I have worked over 20 years at Intel: I can tell you that your speculation on the IDF agenda makes you simply a conspiration theory adept!
And AMD ashes are already cold…it will not rise from it!

Posted By JV, France : August 19, 2008 3:36 am

Having worked at Intel for nearly a decade…this is much ado about nothing.

Pat Gelsinger is more than a fine substitute for Paul or Sean at IDF. Seriously, he’s a technical wizard and is widely recognized to be the best technologist of the 3. Not to mention the fact that he has been with Intel forever…

On top of that, Sean is a sales/marketing guy. Where else should he be, but at the world’s largest sporting & marketing event???

Good to hear Paul is taking his sabbatical…too bad he had to split it. 8 weeks off is the way to go!

Posted By Bill Asch, St Paul, Minnesota : August 18, 2008 5:55 pm

Look at it this way, what great succession planning! Intel has two very well qualified back-up Sr. Executives that can cover the daily business. That’s solid planning and implementation.

Posted By VM, Portland, OR : August 18, 2008 3:55 pm

And no sightings of Big Foot either? Perhaps you are looking for Hector Ruiz.

Posted By Edmund Fitzgerald, Omaha : August 18, 2008 3:30 pm

Paul’s message is clear – come work at Intel, where the impossible trinity of finding a career position that offers i) power/influence/prestige, ii) money as well as iii) Flexibility/quality of life is not so impossible after all.

Posted By Srinidhi Sri Thirumala : August 18, 2008 2:41 pm

GO AMD

AMD will rise from the ashes!!

The New Hope

Posted By W. Karas, Reston, VA : August 18, 2008 11:59 am

It is when you consider the rank and file Intel employees who request to split their sabbaticals as Mr. O did are not allowed to….

Posted By DH, Gilbert AZ : August 18, 2008 11:41 am

this is not a big deal

Posted By iMike, Israel : August 18, 2008 10:31 am

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About This Author

A senior writer for Fortune, Jon Fortt focuses on technology and innovation in Silicon Valley - a subject he's been reporting on since his days as a rookie reporter for the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader. Before joining Fortune in 2007, Jon had reporting and editing stints at Business 2.0 magazine, and the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, Silicon Valley's hometown newspaper.