AMD loses some top executives in its core chip business

John Byrne, the senior vice president and general manager of the computing and graphics business at Advanced Micro Devices, is leaving the No. 2 maker of PC chips. The departure comes just a day after we ran our Q&A with Byrne based on an interview at the 2015 International CES.

But we’re told the departure is not related to whatever Byrne said in his chat. He is leaving to pursue other opportunities, AMD said. Lisa Su, chief executive of AMD, will take on the added role of general manager of the computing and graphics business group in the meantime.

AMD is conducting a search for a replacement. Separately, AMD awarded retention grants to chief financial officer Devinder Kumar and chief technology officer Mark Papermaster. Two other executives, Colette LaForce, chief marketing officer, and Raj Naik, chief strategy officer, are also leaving AMD.

Patrick Moorhead, analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said he was surprised at Byrne’s departure. But he noted that it’s not unusual for a new CEO — Su was recently appointed head of AMD — to clean house. Byrne started in his general manager role a few months ago, but he had been at AMD for eight years.