Lip-Bu Tan may be one of the most powerful technology executives you've never heard of. As he steps into one of the highest-profile jobs on the planet, CEO of troubled, storied chipmaker Intel, his performance will be on full display.

Intel ’s stock is soaring after Lip-Bu Tan, a respected veteran in the semiconductor industry, was chosen as its new CEO. The appointment comes three months after the chipmaker, which falling behind in the A.I. race pushed out former head Pat Gelsinger.

In his letter to Intel employees, new chief executive officer Lip-Bu Tan, who starts his new job next Tuesday, tells them that he is “never deterred by