Beyond The PC: Intel's Drive Into High-Growth Emerging Tech Markets Will Be Powered By Partners

After a year of significant restructuring aimed at positioning Intel for the future, CEO Brian Krzanich has high expectations for the chip giant's channel - explosive growth. "Our CEO has three goals for us," said Greg Baur, Intel's vice president of sales and marketing for the Americas regional sales group. The sales charge comes more than a year after Krzanich kicked off a massive restructuring initiative in April 2016 aimed at transforming the $60 billion behemoth from a "PC-centric company to a smart, connected company that powers the cloud." As the company kicks off its Intel Solutions Summit partner event this week, it is sharply focused on high-growth markets - namely the Internet of Things, data center and cloud as well as newer emerging technologies and markets with great potential including artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. Baur, an Intel channel veteran who is charged with heading up all of the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company's partner activities and sales, sees solution providers as key to winning in those markets.