Paul Otellini will become the chipmaker's first CEO who is not an engineer, while Mr. Barrett becomes company chairman.

Can a number cruncher thrive in the chief executive's spot? Or will Intel turn into PacBell during Scott Adams' pre-Dilbert banking career? How well the company grows will determine Mr. Otellini's success.

Mr. Otellini has a substantial seat to fill. The outgoing Mr. Barrett, leaving after a seven-year stint replacing Andy Grove, will step down on May 18th and replace Mr. Grove as chairman, according to a SiliconValley.com report.

Mr. Grove will remain with Intel as a senior adviser.

Mr. Otellini, a UC-Berkeley MBA, has a reputation as a quiet leader. He'll benefit from Mr. Barrett's drive to invest in new chip-making facilities in the wake of the dot-com implosion, and an expansion into international markets.

Both moves have paid off well for Intel, as demand slowly increased for chips and international revenues swell into a significant stream. The company managed to avoid the heavy layoffs that have been a staple of technology firms as well.

But Mr. Otellini has some successes of his own, leading the company's Centrino campaign. Centrino has become widely recognized as synonymous with mobile computing.

About the Author:
David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.