Western Digital appoints former Nvidia AI leader, reports HDD contracts through 2028

Western Digital announced that former Nvidia AI executive Manuvir Das has joined its board of directors. The move is seen as a signal that the storage‑chip maker is shifting its strategy toward artificial‑intelligence and high‑performance computing, complementing recent introductions such as post‑quantum encryption on its latest drive generation.

The stock fell roughly 7 % in a single session, trading around €425.60, about 39 % below its 52‑week peak. Despite the dip, analysts maintain a consensus price target roughly 31 % higher than the current level, suggesting they view the decline as temporary. Momentum indicators show short‑term weakness, but longer‑term forecasts remain bullish.

In a separate operational update, Western Digital confirmed that its enterprise‑class hard‑disk shipments are fully booked through the end of 2026, with a number of supply contracts extending to 2028. The company argues that this long‑term order backlog could dampen the typical boom‑bust cycle of the memory‑storage sector and provide greater earnings visibility ahead of its upcoming quarterly report.