AMD lures Intel star, nine others into the fold

FORT COLLINS – Advanced Micro Devices has pulled off a hiring coup, luring one of Intel’s top engineers to help launch AMD’s new Fort Collins design center.

AMD officials confirmed that Sam Naffziger, previously Intel’s Director of Itanium Circuits in Fort Collins, has joined the rival chip maker along with nine other Intel defectors.

As of April 5, AMD had compiled a total of 15 engineers for the Fort Collins operation, and was close to signing a lease for a temporary office. Selection of a permanent location should come “pretty soon,´ said Jennifer Hill Robenalt, a spokeswoman for AMD.

AMD’s raid on Intel…