Intel has said its chief executive Paul Otellini plans to retire in May after nearly 40 years with the company.
Intel Corporation said in a statement today that its board will look at company executives as well as external candidates to replace Otellini.
He has been head of the world's largest chip-maker for eight years.
Intel is the world's largest maker of microprocessors, the "brains" of computers. It is dealing with a shift away from PCs and toward tablet computers - a threat because most tablets do not use its processors.
Instead, they use cheaper chips similar to the ones found in smartphones.
Otellini, 62, joined Intel in 1974. In 2002, he was named president and chief operating officer and became CEO three years later.
Intel also said today it had promoted three executives to executive vice president: Renee James, head of Intel's software business; Brian Krzanich, chief operating officer and head of worldwide manufacturing; and Stacy Smith, chief financial officer and director of corporate strategy.
