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Alienware co-founder leaves Dell to become AMD’s chief gaming architect

Alienware co-founder leaves Dell to become AMD’s chief gaming architect

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Frank Azor is taking up a new challenge after 21 years at Alienware

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Actress And Director Aisha Tyler Join #DellExperience At CES 2019
Frank Azor (right) at CES 2019.
Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Dell

Frank Azor, the co-founder and public face of Alienware as well as the longtime overseer of Dell’s gaming and XPS divisions, revealed three weeks ago that he was departing Dell on July 3rd. Having been with Alienware from its inception 21 years ago, Azor announced he was taking on a new challenge with a message of thanks on the Alienware community board.

Wccftech caught wind of Azor’s likely destination, which AMD CEO Lisa Su has now effectively confirmed: he is becoming AMD’s new chief gaming architect, reporting to Sandeep Chennakeshu, who’s the recently appointed vice president in charge of the computing and graphics business group at AMD. When originally reached for comment by The Verge, Azor declined to elaborate on his departure message and didn’t wish to confirm or deny the reports about his next destination.

“The builder and creator in me is ready for the next challenge,” read Azor’s message to Alienware fans. In October 2018, he proudly disclosed that Dell’s gaming business was worth $3 billion, comfortably outpacing any other gaming hardware manufacturers. That seems like a fitting time to look for new opportunities, and AMD is a company on an upward trajectory. This year, it has garnished its gaming credentials by securing the business of providing chips for the next Xbox and PlayStation as well as Google’s Stadia. Apple’s 2019 Mac Pro will also rely on Radeon graphics cards.

Originally, Wccftech said that Azor would serve as AMD’s first “chief gaming officer,” which isn’t a particularly common (or serious, for that matter) title, but seemed plausible given Azor’s established seniority as a leader at Dell. Instead, he’ll be “chief architect of gaming solutions,” a title that still speaks to his likely influence within AMD and the importance of gaming to the company’s future business.

Update, July 15th: With confirmation that Azor has joined AMD, and his correct title of “chief architect of gaming solutions.”