Industry mourns loss of Richard Baker

One of the nicest guys in the IT industry, AMD's Richard Baker, has sadly passed away after a long illness and tributes have begun to flow from everyone who knew him.

Richard belonged to that rare breed of marketing people who actually had a deep understanding of the technology itself. With a degree in electronic engineering from Brunel under his belt, Richard spent years designing high-speed network infrastructures for companies like 3Com before joining AMD in 1990 – prior to the company even launching its 386 technology.

Anyone who worked with Richard would tell you that, in the days of the K5, K6, Athlon and FX, he was key to the way AMD established a strong foothold in the market – especially with the channel and enthusiast communities.

It was Richard's energy and passion in his role as EMEA Marketing Director for AMD that endeared him to so many people inside the industry. He was part of a small core of AMD folk that truly understood where the company had come from – its very humble beginnings – and its potential for the future.

Those who knew him outside of the suit/BMW/serious job title, will probably always picture Richard in safari shorts and sandals, sitting in the Brighton sunshine outside one of his favourite spots along Kensington Gardens, North Laine.

Richard was a genuinely nice person who always had time for those around him and he will be sorely missed.

KitGuru says: Our thoughts are with Richard's family at this time.

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