Eight Ohio One leaders have left Intel since July

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) -- At least six Intel Ohio One leaders have left the company in the past month.

LinkedIn posts show multiple departures, with three in the last week alone, and two other Intel Ohio leaders left their positions in July. The changes come amid companywide layoffs and slowed construction at the plant, although at least one departed employee confirmed they were not fired. See previous coverage of Ohio One in the video player above.

Ohio One employed 163 employees as of December, 156 of whom live in Ohio. These numbers were before Intel implemented mass layoffs, which CEO Lip-Bu Tan said largely took place over the summer. The data was also from before Intel delayed the Ohio One opening into 2032 and before it announced the company would "further slow construction." Despite delays, Intel said the Ohio project is ongoing.

Each of the identified Ohio One leaders who have left since July had been with Ohio One from nearly the beginning. All eight began working at the site the same year it was announced, 2022.

Three weeks ago, Joy John, senior project engineer, announced his departure after 10 years with Intel. In a LinkedIn post, John addressed Intel colleagues and said he was here for them “during this challenging time.” One commenter said they were sorry to see he was laid off, but John corrected the comment and said he left on his own. 

Community Affairs Manager Toby Starr, Ohio One site construction manager Sanjay Patel, and Emily Smith, director of site development and community affairs, all left about a week ago. Smith and Patel posted kindly about their experience with Intel Ohio One and spoke about cheering on the company when the "ribbon is cut."

Senior Program Manager Tom Marshall left Intel and his Ohio placement in August. Two weeks ago, Kevin Hoggatt, director of state government affairs in Ohio, announced his departure. According to a LinkedIn post, Starr, Smith and Hoggatt all served on the same team.

Abrar Mohammed, civil/structural engineering discipline lead, and Tom Ebner, basebuild construction manager, announced they were leaving in July.

According to CHIPS Communities United, a coalition of advocates across states that are home to projects that received federal semiconductor grants, Intel has laid off 7,601 workers since March 2024. According to CHIPS Communities United's data, those layoffs do not include departures from Ohio, as there is no available data.

CHIPS Communities United National Campaign Coordinator Brenda Rodriguez said her organization has been compiling stories from employees who were laid off from Intel. She said more than half of the responses collected so far are from workers who were with Intel for more than 10 years, who were left "shocked and devastated."

"For many, the impact goes far beyond a paycheck; this is taking a toll on their mental health, confidence and household finances," Rodriguez said.

Intel did not respond to NBC4's request for comment, so it is unclear if these positions will be replaced, if they are related to one another, or if they are due to layoffs. However, Intel has not posted any new job openings in Ohio.