Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/07/22/amd_must_cut_expenses_atiq/

AMD must cut expenses – Atiq Raza

Did he want to sell Dresden fab?

By Mike Magee

Posted in On-Prem, 22nd July 1999 07:57 GMT

A local newspaper in Austin, Texas, has secured an interview with Atiq Raza who left AMD the same day as it delivered terrible financial results. The Austin American Statesman, in an interview with the former president of the company, quotes Raza as saying he left his $800,000 a year job with AMD because "something was missing" in job satisfaction. He told the newspaper that AMD has to cut its operating expenses and also lower its sales expectations in order to break even. The newspaper speculates that a row broke out between CEO Jerry Sanders III and Raza after the latter wanted to sell the expensive fab it has just completed in Dresden. AMD had to take huge loans out to build the factory, and is in debt to banks and the German government. Raza also told the newspaper that while AMD's K7 Athlon is a very good product, it does face marketing difficulties. ® See also AMD's Sanders drops another clanger