US chipmaker Intel hired Thomas Lantzsch, an executive from rival ARM, to head up its Internet of Things group, while also unveiling a new unit dedicated to autonomous driving.

The company, which is stepping up development of chips for a range of devices, and diversify away from its core chip portfolio for computers while also attempting to improve its (relatively unsuccessful) mobile efforts, said Lantzsch will join the company in January as its new SVP and general manager of the IoT group.

Lantzsch spent the last 10 years of his career at UK-based ARM – recently acquired by Japan’s SoftBank for $31 billion – as executive VP of strategy. ARM, too, is ramping up efforts around IoT and computing technology for cars.

Automated Driving Group
In a separate effort, Intel unveiled a new organisation called the Automated Driving Group (ADG), which will focus on “innovating the future of driving”, and designing advanced drive assist systems and autonomous driving solutions.

The unit will be headed up by Douglas Davis, a 30-year veteran of Intel and former head of the IoT group, who has decided to postpone his planned retirement to take up the role.

“With Tom and Doug at the helm of Intel’s IoT and automated driving efforts, I’m more confident than ever that Intel will uniquely lead the revolution that will create our future smart and connected world,” wrote Murthy Renduchintala, president of client and IoT businesses at the company.

Most recently, Chinese firm Alibaba said earlier this month it was looking to develop products with Intel in a number of emerging areas, including IoT.