Orton steps down as AMD boss
Mixed feelings from executive vice president as he departs this month
The former head of ATI Technologies, Dave Orton, has decided to quit AMD just eight months after his company was taken over by the troubled chip manufacturer.
Orton, who helped build ATI into nVidia’s biggest rival in the graphics chip market, cited mixed feelings about his decision to quit his current role as an executive vice president of AMD. His departure at the end of July leaves the path clear for AMD to stamp its authority on its graphics acquisition.
“It is with mixed feelings that I am leaving AMD,” said Orton. “I am very optimistic about AMD’s future. I believe strongly in the strategies that brought AMD and ATI together and the talented employees of the ‘new AMD’ who are committed to winning in the market by delivering the best possible solutions for customers.”
Dirk Meyer, AMD president and chief operating officer, said: “Dave’s passion and relentless drive catapulted ATI into a solid leadership position in each of the company’s graphics, chipset and consumer electronics businesses.
“More recently, Dave was one of the key drivers in the successful integration of AMD and ATI. With his integration work complete and the successful launch of key graphics and chipset products earlier this year, the time was right for Dave to take his personal and professional life in a different direction.”
The news of Orton’s departure was accompanied by some new ATI product launches, including two new graphics products for watching high-definition (HD) TV and digital video recording (DVR). The ATI TV Wonder 600 USB is an external solution for PCs or laptops, allowing users to receive and record HDTV video.
The TV Wonder 650 Combo PCIe is an internal PC card for capturing and recording free-to-view digital TV content, such as Freeview. The PCIe boasts a combo-TV tuner for receiving analogue or digital content that will also allow end-users to watch an analogue broadcast while simultaneously recording a digital TV programme.