Raja Koduri is leaving ATI

WE HAVE JUST gotten word that Raja Koduri is leaving ATI. For those of you that don't know who he is, Raja is one of the top few people at ATI, and highly respected by all who know him.

We hear the departure is for personal reasons, but in this case, that is not in quotes, it isn't a euphemism. In this case, it is really for personal reasons. If you know Raja, you know how much time he spends caring for his family, and unlike many, how seriously he takes that responsibility. We are told he is not being shown the door in any way, his departure is related to private family matters. Things are still very friendly between the two sides.

Given ATI's competitive position, it is clear his leadership changed the game, and the people he has put in place will continue that. At the Inq, we know most of them, and they are, well, really good too. The magic 8-ball of graphics card futures shows that Cypress is going to trounce GT300, so this departure isn't a sign of impending implosion like at some companies.

We don't know where Raja is going to go, it isn't Intel or Nvidia, rumors say it will be something very different. In any case we wish him luck, as anything he puts his mind to is going to be interesting, count on that.

If you know him, feel free to leave work early, go down to the local Indian pub and have some scaldingly spicy food. Then raise a toast with the traditional Buttery Nipple(1), it is only fitting. µ

(1) Buttery Nipples are made from Butterscotch Schnapps and Bailey's Irish Cream. There are worse drinks out there.