Lee McIntire takes helm at AI nuclear startup Fermi

McIntire transitions from his role as an independent board member at Fermi, bringing decades of experience from his tenure at CH2M Hill and Bill Gates-backed TerraPower. His appointment signals a strategic shift for the company, which is currently developing Project Matador, an AI campus in Amarillo, Texas, designed to operate on dedicated nuclear power.

Chairman Marius Haas emphasized that the company’s focus has moved from conceptual planning to heavy infrastructure delivery. This leadership change follows a period of instability that saw the departure of both Neugebauer and CFO Miles Everson in April. The market has reacted positively to the news and the recent signing of TensorWave as the project's first binding lease customer, with Fermi’s stock rising nearly 23% since Monday.