AMD creating business unit

Electronic News, May 1, 1995

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. - Advanced Micro Devices reorganized embedded microprocessor and notebook PC products development efforts, including creation of a strategic business unit chartered to design and develop microprocessors - based on AMD's forthcoming K86 family of superscalar MPUs - for the battery-powered computer market.

The new unit is described by the company as an offshoot of the Personal Computer Products division (PCD), but it will be based here in Sunnyvale, whereas the PCD is headquarted in Austin. The currently-unnamed business unit will be headed by Robert McConnell, who previously led the PCD. Portable notebook marketing will continue to be done by the PCD.

AMD chairman and CEO Jerry Sanders commented "We are creating this strategic business unit to address customer requirements for the fastest-growing segment of the personal computer market. Naming a seasoned, accomplished executive like Bob McConnell to run this new business is a testament to our commitment to meeting the needs of our customers in this critical area."

In conjunction with these changes, AMD's Mobile Computing division (MCD) is being combined with the company's Embedded Products division (EPD) under the direction of MCD's current VP David Chavoustie. Mr. Chavoustie has been with AMD for 13 years. Mr. McConnell has been VP and GM of PCD since 1989, with 23 years at AMD.

Replacing Mr. McConnell as GM of PCD will be Larry Hollatz, who is currently VP of AMD's EPD. Mr. Hollatz joined AMD in 1991 as VP of EPD.

In addition, Dr. Mike Johnson, director of advanced processor engineering and senior AMD Fellow, will now report directly to John Bourgoin, group VP for microprocessors. Mr. Johnson is the principal architect of the AMD K86 family and the Am29000 family of RISC MPUs. He is also author of "Superscalar Microprocessor Design," a work on superscalar architectures.

The K86 family includes the Pentium-challenger K5 expected for shipment in production quantities in early 1996 (EN, April 17).