Ann Kelleher facts for kids

Ann B. Kelleher is an amazing engineer and a top leader at a company called Intel. She comes from a small place near Macroom in County Cork, Ireland.

At Intel, she leads a special team that creates new technology. They work on making tiny computer parts, like those using 5 nanometer (nm) and 7 nm technology. This means making parts incredibly small and powerful. She is also the first Irish woman to become a vice-president at Intel.

Ann Kelleher's Early Life and Education

Ann Kelleher grew up in Macroom, County Cork, Ireland. Her father was a farmer. She loved maths and science in school, thanks to her parents' encouragement.

She decided to study engineering at University College Cork (UCC). In her class of 55 students, only five were women. She focused on electrical engineering and finished her degree in 1987.

Ann then continued her studies for a Master's degree in electrical engineering. She graduated in 1989. Later, she made history by becoming the first woman to earn a PhD from Ireland's National Microelectronics Research Centre (NMRC). This center is now part of the Tyndall National Institute at UCC. She finished her PhD in 1993.

Starting Her Career at Intel

In 1996, Ann Kelleher joined Intel Ireland in Leixlip, County Kildare. She started as a process engineer. She quickly moved up in the company.

Her first big leadership job was managing Fab 24 in Leixlip. A "Fab" is a factory where computer chips are made. When Fab 24 opened in 2006, it was Intel's first chip factory in Europe to use advanced 65 nanometer technology.

In 2008, Ann moved to the United States of America. She became the plant manager at Intel's Fab 12 in Chandler, Arizona. She also managed another Intel factory, Fab 11X, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. By 2015, she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she lives today.

Leading the Way at Intel

Ann Kelleher became the general manager of Intel's Fab/Sort Manufacturing. In this role, she was in charge of making huge amounts of silicon computer parts.

In 2011, Ann became the first Irish woman to be named a vice president at Intel. This was a big achievement! In January 2018, she was promoted again. She became a senior vice-president of the Technology and Manufacturing Group. This group has about 30,000 employees.

Her work includes making sure products are high quality. She also helps manage how products get to customers and plans for Intel's factories around the world.

In 2018, Ann was named one of "Ireland's Most Powerful Women." Later that year, Forbes magazine even suggested she could be a great leader for Tesla, Inc.. This was because of her amazing experience in making high-tech products in large amounts.

In July 2020, Intel changed its structure. Ann Kelleher was chosen to lead the Technology Development Team. She was praised for keeping Intel's factories running during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also helped increase the supply of computer parts and speed up the development of Intel's 10 nanometer technology.

Supporting Girls in STEM

Ann Kelleher strongly believes that more women should work in engineering and lead in the tech industry. She encourages girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in school and university.

She also thinks that more women should apply for senior leadership jobs. Ann is a great role model for young people interested in technology and engineering.

Ann Kelleher's Personal Life

Ann Kelleher travels a lot for her job. She visits places in Asia and Europe a few times each year. She also makes sure to visit her family home in Ireland.