Former SK hynix and SK On CEO tapped as Intel Foundry's new executive vice president

Former SK hynix and SK On CEO Lee Seok-hee is joining Intel’s top leadership team, marking a rare case in which an executive from one of Korea’s leading semiconductor companies has been directly recruited into the highest decision-making ranks of a global tech giant.

Intel appointed Lee as executive vice president of Intel Foundry, the company announced on Thursday. He will oversee advanced packaging, system integration, back-end technology development and back-end manufacturing operations.

“Advanced packaging and system integration are becoming defining capabilities for next-generation computing systems,” said Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. “[Lee] brings deep expertise in leading complex, high-scale technology and manufacturing organizations and a strong track record of operational execution.”

Tan described Lee as “the right leader to build and scale this critical part of the Intel Foundry business” as the company prepares to ramp advanced packaging technologies from “EMIB-T [Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge through-silicon via] and HBI [hybrid bonding interface] to high volume for customers and partners.”

“I’m excited to return home and to join the Intel team as we help advance the company’s technology leadership, manufacturing capabilities and customer commitments in this critical area,” said Lee. “Intel is uniquely positioned to lead in advanced packaging as demand for system-level integration accelerates across AI and high-performance computing.”

Lee also highlighted his relationship with Tan, calling the Intel CEO a “longtime friend and mentor.”

“Knowing his vision for Intel, his focus and commitment to customers and his disciplined approach to execution, I felt that it was time to return to Intel,” Lee said.

An executive vice president at Intel is part of the company’s highest leadership tier that oversees core business strategy and the global manufacturing ecosystem. Lee is the first Korean from either academia or industry to be directly recruited into a top executive leadership position at the headquarters of a top-tier global technology company rather than serving as a regional chief or head of a specific technology division.

“Intel appointing Lee is a symbolic and historic moment that demonstrates global recognition of the manufacturing competitiveness and management capabilities that Korea’s semiconductor industry has built over the years,” a U.S. IT industry representative said.

According to industry insiders, Lee and Tan have maintained a close and trusted relationship for many years. Sources say that Tan highly valued Lee’s strategic vision and global management experience during the recruitment process.

Lee graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in materials science and engineering and earned a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University. He is widely regarded as a leader with both technical expertise and management capabilities. After completing his doctoral studies, Lee worked as a researcher at Intel for more than a decade. During his tenure as president of SK hynix, he also led the acquisition and integration of Intel’s NAND flash business, which is now Solidigm.

“Korean semiconductor leadership has now expanded into the center of the U.S. technology industry, and we expect Korean companies’ networks within the global supply chain to broaden further,” a semiconductor industry representative said. “Lee could also serve as a practical bridge for cooperation between Intel and Korean materials, parts and equipment suppliers and memory chip companies.”

BY KO SUK-HYUN [[email protected]]