AMD observer

For Advanced Micro, Things Go from Bad to Worse

Right on X86. I cracked up when you characterized Ruiz as a tool. He has an awesome track record of trashing businesses and, sadly, AMD is the latest vicitm. I am very hopeful now that he is out of the big chair. Meyer has a tough challenge in front of him, but with The Dissector out of the way he may actually have a shot at making something big out of AMD. One comment on the asset light strategy: I agree with the analysts who think this is a bad idea. The linkage between the design folks and the fab can be critical with regard to cycles of learning. If anything, AMD MUST be able to get new products to market quickly and having dedicated resources is key. I am particularly concerned about this in that one article I read had Hector running the new enterprise. <Shudder> I think it's the only way they could afford to get him out of the CEO seat. I am bullish on AMD. It will take a while, but I have seen this stock at $4.00 before and it has come back. The industry needs AMD as a foil to Intel and that will keep 'em running long enough to get it right now that the helm is in steadier hands.

Tech's Most Popular CEOs

The only surprise that Hector Ruiz has a low approval rating is that it is actually higher than 10%. Barely, but it made it. One of the worst CEO's out there.

Advanced Micro: Despite Meeting, The Wait for Details Continues

AMD or bust: I wish you well. AMD has some great talent and has done some fantastic things in the past. It's Hector that is the problem. I think Intel and the industry needs AMD to survive (albeit just barely from Intel's point of view) so your bet is not a bad one. They just deserve better management.

Advanced Micro: Despite Meeting, The Wait for Details Continues

Bravo, couldn't have said it better.

Advanced Micro: Despite Meeting, The Wait for Details Continues

The performance at the shareholders meeting is typical Ruiz. He will never take ownership of AMD's failures, it's always someone else's fault. Every idea he has ever had at AMD was a bust. The only person keeping this company afloat (for years) is Dirk Meyer. Hector has continued his trend of taking productive, innovative people and disenfranchising them (review his performance at Motorola as the head of semiconductor manufacturing). He has 20/400 vision and can't see past the end of the next quarter. His reluctance to comment on the "asset lite" strategy is typical. I don't think he wants to own it in the event it fails. The assessment in the article above is spot on when commenting on the interdependence of fabs and the development teams. Cycles of learning are key and a foundry relationship seems pretty risky to me, even if they use Fab30/36 in Dresden as a dedicated resource. The people there are smart and will find other, more stable customers eventually. It doesn't feel good to be cut off from the fold and loyalty will go out the window. All that said, there are some awesome folks at AMD with great ideas and the ability to execute. Hector just needs to get out of the way and let them get after it.