Intel Brings In Former ARM Exec Tom Lantzsch As 'Accelerant' For Internet of Things Group

Intel has hired Tom Lantzsch as senior vice president and general manager of its IoT Group, as the company continues to strengthen its Internet of Things business.

Lantzsch was most recently the executive vice president of strategy at rival chip company ARM, which specializes in mobile and low-power chips for IoT devices. He will start in his new role in January 2017, according to Intel.

"[Tom] brings deep strategic and operational acumen, and he’s grown businesses and fueled innovation," said Murthy Renduchintala, president of the Client and Internet of Things (IoT) Businesses and Systems Architecture Group at Intel Corporation, in a blog post. "He’ll be an accelerant leader for Intel and our industry – leading with a pure passion for how smart and connected devices will enrich our daily lives."

[Related: Amazon Web Service Partners Want More IoT Details At AWS Re:Invent]

Lantzch will lead the strategy behind Intel architecture computing solutions across the IoT market segments, including manufacturing, industrial, retail, transportation, smart buildings and homes.

In addition to ARM, the tech veteran's previous posts included operations and sales roles at StarCore, Motorola, and Texas Instruments.

Intel also lifted the curtain on the Automated Driving Group, which the company said will research and develop innovative next-generation autonomous driving solutions and driver-assist connected systems. Earlier in November, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich announced that the company will invest $250 million in autonomous driving to learn more about next-generation connectivity, context awareness, and security.

Intel executive Doug Davis will lead the charge in the company's Automated Driving Group. Davis, who earlier in the year announced he would retire at the end of 2016, was formerly the general manager of Intel's IoT Group. Davis will jointly run the group with vice president Kathy Winter, who joined Intel earlier in the year from automotive components supplier Delphi Automotive.

"It’s interesting, as well as promising, to see Intel looking outside its own walls to bring people onboard that have different experiences, expertise and vision," said Kent Tibbils, vice president of marketing at ASI, a Fremont, Calif.-based Intel system builder. "If they can combine the skillset of these new leaders with Intel’s core values, particularly those centered on Intel’s belief in the channel, then I think that would certainly benefit VARs who are also looking to expand into new market segments such as IoT."

The executive changes come as Intel continues to shift its strategy from a PC-focused company to a connected device, cloud and data center company with a tighter emphasis on the Internet of Things. Renduchintala, a former Qualcomm executive who Intel hired last November, has been charged with leading this strategic shift for the company.

"With Tom and Doug at the helm of Intel’s IoT and automated driving efforts, I’m more confident than ever that Intel will uniquely lead the revolution that will create our future smart and connected world," wrote Renduchintala.