Raja Koduri Resigns From AMD
We reported earlier this year that Raja Koduri (effective leader and CEO of RTG within AMD), was taking a form of sabbatical for three months (end of year). We just got news that Raja, has tendered his resignation with RTG and AMD. The once bright star for RTG and AMD's graphics division is now moving on and leaving the current work and roadmap behind him. Lisa Su resumed leadership of RTG during Raja's sabbatical period and will continue to provide leadership until a replacement can be found for RTG.
Give the vision and leadership Raja has provided, I'm confident that Vega and Navi roadmaps are well underway and will continue to meet their roadmaps and development. As Raja has been the face and visionary for AMD's graphics division, his absence will surely be felt. Given the rocky launch of Vega and its late entry into high-end graphics, it leaves speculation and wonder as to the reasoning for Raja leaving. Regardless, it would only benefit us (consumers) if the full vision of Vega is realized and all hardware features get enablement. Let's hope this doesn't effect the vision and work that so many are still working towards.
Below is copy of the email that Raja sent to internal AMD staff.
To my AMD family,
Forty is a significant number in history. It is a number representing transition, testing and change. I have just spent forty days away from the office going through such a transition. It was an important time with my family, and it also offered me a rare space for reflection. During this time I have come to the extremely difficult conclusion that it is time for me to leave RTG and AMD.
I have no question in my mind that RTG, and AMD, are marching firmly in the right direction as high-performance computing becomes ever-more-important in every aspect of our lives. I believe wholeheartedly in what we are doing with Vega, Navi and beyond, and I am incredibly proud of how far we have come and where we are going. The whole industry has stood up and taken notice of what we are doing. As I think about how computing will evolve, I feel more and more that I want to pursue my passion beyond hardware and explore driving broader solutions.
I want to thank Lisa and the AET for enabling me to pursue my passion during the last four years at AMD, and especially the last two years with RTG. Lisa has my utmost respect for exhibiting the courage to enable me with RTG, for believing in me and for going out of her way to support me. I would also like to call out Mark Papermaster who brought me into AMD, for his huge passion for technology and for his relentless support through many difficult phases. And of course, I want to thank each and every one of my direct staff and my indirect staff who have worked so hard with me to build what we have now got. I am very proud of the strong leaders we have and I'm fully confident that they can execute on the compelling roadmap ahead.
I will continue to be an ardent fan and user of AMD technologies for both personal and professional use.
As I mentioned, leaving AMD and RTG has been an extremely difficult decision for me. But I felt it is the right one for me personally at this point. Time will tell. I will be following with great interest the progress you will make over the next several years.
On a final note, I have asked a lot of you in the last two years. You've always delivered. You've made me successful both personally and professionally, for which I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I have these final requests from you as I leave:
. Stay focused on the roadmap!
. Deliver on your commitments!
. Continue the culture of Passion, Persistence and Play!
. Make AMD proud!
. Make me proud!
Raja Koduri
**Update**
As this was a huge surprise, an even bigger surprised followed this announcement! It seems Raja will be taking a lead position with Intel (AMD's rival) as Chief Architect for cores and visual computing. This drive by Intel shouldn't be a surprise as Nvidia and AMD are in markets driving competition and innovation for Intel's marketshares. The surprise (or blow rather) that this news provides is around Raja and his intellectual property shared with AMD and their roadmap for the same space. Supposed 2018 and 2019 should prove interesting to watch at the very least!!
