In a significant move within the tech industry, Microsoft’s vice president of silicon manufacturing, Rehan Sheikh, has left the company to join Google as vice president of global silicon chip technology and manufacturing.
Sheikh described his nearly four years at Microsoft as “the most rewarding and fulfilling of my long silicon engineering career,” but expressed enthusiasm for this new chapter. His departure marks a key shift in the competitive landscape of silicon technology development, as major players continue to invest in advanced chip design and manufacturing.
At Microsoft, Sheikh played a pivotal role in the development of Maia 100, the company’s first in-house processor chip, and its Cobalt 100 processor. Both projects underscore Microsoft’s growing emphasis on proprietary silicon solutions for cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications.
Reflecting on his time at the Redmond-based tech giant, Sheikh highlighted the collaborative environment and the accomplishments achieved by his team. “The best part was the journey and working with the most talented people. We did it the right way working collaboratively, respectfully, and supporting each other,” he said.
Before his tenure at Microsoft, Sheikh spent over 24 years at Intel, where he served as an Intel fellow and a leading technology executive. His extensive experience in chip innovation and manufacturing positions him to make a significant impact at Google, which has been ramping up its silicon efforts to support its cloud and AI ambitions.
This move is seen as a strategic win for Google, as Sheikh’s expertise aligns with the company’s goal to expand its custom chip capabilities. His appointment signals Google’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its hardware infrastructure to meet the growing demands of next-generation technologies.
Sheikh’s transition highlights the intensifying competition among tech giants in the silicon space, with proprietary chip development becoming a critical differentiator in an increasingly AI-driven world.
