Faced with deep-seated technical problems that have dented its long ascendance in the chip industry, Intel this week reached outside for a new chief executive with an impeccable technical background. But despite strong backing for the move on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley, the incoming boss still faces one of the toughest comebacks in tech history.

Pat Gelsinger, the former head of software company VMware, had often been seen as an Intel chief executive in waiting. After a career at the US chipmaker that culminated in the role of chief technology officer, he left in 2009 after being passed over for the top job. He was also considered for the position in 2013, and then again in 2018, the second time ruling himself out of the running.

Mr Gelsinger was named this week to replace Bob Swan, a finance executive who joined more than four years ago and took the helm in 2019. Mr Swan “was dealt a difficult hand” but still “accomplished a lot”, said Pat Moorhead, a US chip analyst. That included honing Intel’s strategy, pulling it out of markets like communications and NAND flash memory chips where it was underperforming, and delivering a strong financial performance.