Intel Appoints Dawn Jones Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Intel’s Dawn Jones

Intel has appointed Dawn Jones as chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO) and vice president of social impact. Jones is a 24-year Intel veteran. She will lead the company’s global diversity and inclusion strategy. In addition, she will direct its investments and programs driving positive global impact. This includes prioritizing cross-company and industrywide initiatives to achieve Intel’s ambitious 10-year 2030 RISE Strategy.

Intel’s RISE Strategy expands the company’s corporate responsibility strategy to increase the scale of work with others to create a more responsible, inclusive and sustainable world, enabled through technology and their collective actions.

Since January 2021, Jones has served as acting CDIO after the departure of Barbara Whye. Before that, she served as global director of policy, strategy and partnerships. She was she was responsible for Intel’s diversity and inclusion policy, strategy, communications, external alliances and stakeholder engagement. Jones’ philosophy that leadership is driven from any seat has propelled her at Intel from administrative assistant to public affairs manager of community and education investments to acting CDIO.

A New Chapter

“Today starts a new chapter in our collective journey to create a more diverse, inclusive and responsible workplace, industry and world,” said Jones. “I look forward to partnering across Intel and our industry to accelerate action on our most pressing issues, from persistent gaps in women and underrepresented minority leadership and systemic inequities to sustainability and inclusiveness.”

Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University. She earned a master’s degree in communications management from Syracuse University. She will report to Sandra Rivera, Intel’s executive vice president and chief people officer.

“Dawn Jones is a leading advocate of actionable change who has demonstrated deep expertise and experience leading diversity initiatives on a global scale,” said Rivera. “Her experience inside and outside of Intel will enable her to lead this critical component of Intel’s business and global impact strategy to create innovative solutions through the advancement of diversity, inclusion and corporate responsibility at every level in our company and the broader industry.”

Engineering the Future

In January, Intel appointed Pat Gelsinger as its new CEO. Gelsinger, a 40-year industry veteran and former VMware CEO, replaced Bob Swan. Gelsinger started his career at Intel and spent 30 years there.

As soon as he took over on Feb. 15, Gelsinger began outlining priorities for the company’s ambitious “Engineering the Future” growth plan. The plan’s goal is to restore the company’s leadership in semiconductor production.

In March, Gelsinger announced that the popular Intel Developer Forum (IDF) would return this coming October in a new form. IDF was discontinued four years ago.