AMD shows tech chief the door

Heads have started to roll at AMD (AMD), as technology chief Phil Hester resigned with no replacement planned, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The news comes less than a week after the chipmaker announced a 15% sequential sales shortfall and plans to cut 10% of its staff due to weak demand across all its business segments.

AMD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Analysts point to a slowing economy and a critical delay of AMD’s quad-core Barcelona chip for the server market as two major reasons for the company’s current woes.

AMD, which has already pulled Hester’s bio from its Web site, called Hester the top executive “responsible for setting the architectural and product strategies and plans for AMD’s microprocessor business.”

The company is in a brutal battle with rival Intel (INTC) and has been on the losing end recently due to misfirings like the Barcelona glitch. AMD follows Intel’s earnings report Tuesday with its full first-quarter report on Thursday.

AMD shares were down a nickel to $6.22 in midday trading Friday.

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No TomH, it is more like he saw the writing on the wall and it’s better to tell prospective employer’s you resigned a previous job instead of them reading about you getting fired. Either way you look at it his head was handed to him.

Posted By Dave, Cleveland Ohio : April 12, 2008 12:08 am

Wreck of the Hesperus,
Wreck of the Titanic,
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,
Wreck of the Hector Ruiz.

Posted By Neptune, Pelagic Bathysphere somewhere near Waterbury : April 11, 2008 10:28 pm

Yeah, why would AMD kick someone out without a replacement?

Posted By KG : April 11, 2008 9:05 pm

“AMD Shows Chief Exec The Door”

Nice Spin…. making it sound like it was AMD’s idea.

Looks to me like Hester Quit. Smart guy. It’s B=better to get off the Titanic before it sinks.

Posted By TomH, Chandler, Arizona : April 11, 2008 2:55 pm

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