Jerry Sanders, AMD founder and head honcho, has anointed Hector de Ruiz to replace him as chief executive.

But he's not ready to step down just yet - Ruiz will get the keys to the company "sometime in the second half of 2002", according the San Jose Mercury.

Ruiz, 54, joined the chip maker from Motorola this year as president and chief operating officer. He is said to be "quiet and thoughtful", somewhat different from the shoot-straight-from-the-hip, if-you-got-it-flaunt-it Sanders.

But will he last the course? Sanders has 21 months or so to change his mind. ®