It's official: AMD CEO and President Hector Ruiz will replace company founder Jerry Sanders as Chairman on 29 April.

Ruiz was today appointed as Chairman-elect, the company said.

The colourful Sanders - how well we recall his bright white suit, with orange socks and tie, burned into our brain after sharing an elevator ride with the gentleman at AMD's Athlon 64 launch - will stay on as Chairman Emeritus. We can well imagine the avuncular fellow shouting out advice to the 'young folks' left in charge of the chip maker he created in 1969.

At the very least, we hope he'll still be on call for the occasional choice comment on his arch-rival, Intel.

Ruiz joined AMD in January 2000, from Motorola. Initially serving as President and COO, he was promoted to CEO in April 2002, replacing Sanders, who had held the post for the previous 33 years. ®