AMD Reshuffles Business Units, Names New COO

Chip maker AMD (AMD) has consolidated two previously separate business units, global operations and sales organizations into one umbrella unit overseeing product strategy, execution, operations and sales headed by Dr. Lisa Su, who also takes over as the company’s new chief operating officer (COO), reporting to president and chief executive Rory Read. The changes will become effective July 1.

“During the past two years, we have been successfully executing our three-step strategy to reset, accelerate and ultimately transform AMD,” Read said. “Today’s announcement represents the next step in our long-term strategic plan to help ensure AMD’s operating structure and culture are better aligned to drive consistent growth and profitability by leveraging our leadership IP to create differentiated products that help our customers win across a diversified set of high-growth markets.”

As part of the consolidation, two expanded business groups will operate under the newly formed organization. The Enterprise, Embedded and Semi-Custom Business Group includes AMD’s server, embedded, dense server and semi-custom businesses, as well as associated product engineering and sales. Su will head that unit on an interim basis until a permanent boss is hired.

The Computing and Graphics Business Group, meanwhile, includes client, consumer graphics and professional graphics businesses, including the associated product engineering and sales. It will be headed by John Byrne, AMD chief sales officer, who’s new title is senior vice president and general manager of the group. He is a seven-year company veteran who has served in a variety of senior management capacities.

“John’s years of PC industry experience and successful track record of strengthening AMD’s customer relationships make him ideally suited to take on additional responsibility and lead one of our new business groups,” Read said.

Su is a veteran of 13 years at IBM (IBM) in a variety of engineering and management positions. She joined AMD in 2012 as Global Business Units senior vice president and general manager handling product strategy, product definition and business planning.

“Lisa has been a driving force in AMD’s recent success, and as COO she will expand on this foundation and lead a broader organization designed to more quickly adapt to industry shifts, streamline execution and decision-making, and create even greater value for our customers,” said Read.