(By Balachander) Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) on Wednesday said Sean Maloney, the company's executive vice president the head of its Chinese operations, plans to retire in January.
Maloney, who suffered a stroke and took a medical leave of absence from Intel in 2010, was once seen as a possible candidate to succeed Chief Executive Paul Otellini.
On his return, Maloney served as the first chairman of Intel China. He earlier served as co-general manager of the Intel Architecture Group and chief sales and marketing officer.
"Sean is a well-known visionary for Intel and the computing industry," said Otellini. In the '90s Maloney identified the impact Asia would have as a technology market as well as an innovation hub for the industry, and last year he unveiled Intel's efforts to re-invent computing with Ultrabook devices.
Otellini said Maloney "leaves a major mark on Intel and the industry."
Intel China contributed $8.1 billion of the company's sales last year.
The stock added 0.11 percent to trade at $23.40 on Wednesday.