Alumnus Tan Lip-Bu takes on new role as CEO of Intel Corporation

NTU alumnus Tan Lip-Bu has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Intel Corporation. A highly accomplished technology leader, he has outlined his determination to drive the turnaround of one of the world’s largest chipmakers, making headlines internationally.

Tan Lip-Bu has made international headlines with his appointment as the new CEO of Intel, a global semiconductor company.

Lip-Bu, who received the Nanyang Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005, said in an open letter to Intel employees that he will focus on making Intel an engineering-driven company, dedicated to developing the best products while maintaining a customer-centric approach.

Strong ties with NTU

Lip-Bu’s relationship with NTU began in his teens when he entered Nanyang University to study Physics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science at 19 in 1978.

In a recent interview with The Straits Times, Lip-Bu said: "The first success was to enter NTU." Despite being on the waiting list for three months and missing part of the academic term, he emerged in the top two in his first university examinations.  

“With the results, at least I knew where I stood in the school and I gained confidence; so that was my first success,” he shared.

He spent his formative years on the NTU campus and developed a passion for basketball, a hobby he continues to enjoy today and draw lessons from.

“One of the most enduring lessons I learned during my university days came as an athlete, not a student. I learned to believe in and trust my teammates, because I knew that was the surest path to victory — and there’s nothing I dislike more than losing. This is the mentality we all need to embrace as we build a winning culture across Intel,” he wrote in a memo to Intel employees.

Tan Lip-Bu (centre) visited corporate labs with NTU President, Prof Ho Teck Hua (left) in June 2024.

He served as a Trustee of NTU from 2006 to 2011, and though he is now based in the US, Lip-Bu has closely followed NTU’s development. In 2024, he made a philanthropic contribution of $3 million to establish the University’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) professorship, now named the "Tan Lip-Bu Professorship in AI".

In addition, Walden International has partnered with the University to launch the Nanyang Frontier Fund, Singapore’s first VC fund. With an initial target of S$50 million, the fund aims to accelerate deep-tech start-ups from NTU.

Track record as a technology investor

After NTU, he went to the US for further education, studying nuclear engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, before moving to California for business school and founding the venture capital firm Walden International in 1987.

A respected figure in technology investment, Lip-Bu has more than two decades of experience in the semiconductor and software sectors. One of his most notable investments was in Creative Technology, a leading maker of personal computer and digital entertainment devices from Singapore. Forbes dubbed him the “pioneer of Asian venture capital” for his pioneering work in venture capital.

Before joining Intel, Lip-Bu served as the CEO of Cadence Design Systems, leading the company for over a decade before transitioning to the role of chairman, a position he held until 2023. Under his leadership, Cadence doubled its revenue and saw its stock price rise by over 3,200%. The company develops software used by all major chip designers, including Intel. Lip-Bu also sits on the boards of Credo Technology Group and Schneider Electric.

Over the years, Lip-Bu has been honoured with several accolades. In 2022, he received the prestigious Robert N. Noyce Award, the highest honour bestowed by the Semiconductor Industry Association.