BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Sonja Pierer has been appointed new managing director
of chipmaker Intel in Germany, the company said in Munich on Friday.

Pierer, a 46-year-old computer scientist, follows Christin
Eisenschmid who left the company in March citing personal reasons.

'Intel will continue to make a significant contribution to the
ongoing digitalization of the German and European economy in the
coming years,' Pierer said.

US Chip-maker Intel plans to produce state-of-the-art chips at two
new mega factories the eastern German city of Magdeburg.

The German government approved funding of around $10 billion for the
project last year.

Once the European Commission approves the move, construction could
start as early as next year, after Intel had initially planned for a
2024 start date.

The company expects to start operations in the first factory four to
five years after the funding is approved.

Pierer said that with the Magdeburg plants, Intel was sending a
strong signal in Europe. The US chipmaker is planning to spend over
?30 billion ($32.1 billion) on the site, making it 'one of the
largest single investments in the history of the Federal Republic of
Germany,' she said.

Pierer will be responsible for landing orders for the new 'Silicon
Junction' project, which will not only produce semiconductors for
Intel itself, but also for other semiconductor suppliers.

However, costumers will have to be patient as it takes between two
and four years to develop the microprocessors needed for the
production processes in Magdeburg, according to Intel.


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