Jensen Huang, the long-serving Chief Executive Officer of technology titan Nvidia, has stepped down from his role following revelations of two extramarital affairs, including one with a businesswoman reportedly suspected by US authorities of spying for China.
Nvidia confirmed on Thursday that Huang had resigned as president, CEO, and a member of its board, effective immediately. The American technology giant moved swiftly to appoint Colette Kress, its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, as interim CEO. Kress will continue to hold her CFO position while the board initiates a search for a permanent successor. Additionally, board member Harvey Jones, formerly CEO of Synopsys, has been named the company’s first-ever board chairman.
Mounting Scrutiny Over Personal Conduct
Huang’s departure follows intense scrutiny over his personal relationships and escalating concerns about potential foreign intelligence activities impacting the company. The board reportedly convened on Wednesday to deliberate Huang’s future after a second alleged affair with an Nvidia executive came to light.
The New York Times previously reported that Huang was involved with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based data centre firm Megaspeed International. US intelligence officials reportedly suspected Alice Huang of working for the Chinese government. Jensen Huang later acknowledged his unfaithfulness to employees in an internal message, offering an apology to his wife and children.
A separate New York Times report on Wednesday further alleged that Huang also had an affair with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s Vice President of Healthcare, who reportedly reported directly to him. Sources cited by the newspaper observed the pair displaying affection at a hotel during an Nvidia conference in March.
Company Investigations and Market Reaction
Prior to these recent developments, Nvidia’s board had launched an independent investigation into reports that Huang might be a target of a foreign intelligence operation. At the time, the company stated it had no evidence to suggest that its secrets or national security had been compromised.
The news of Huang’s exit sent ripples through the market. Reuters reported that Nvidia shares tumbled by more than 10 percent in pre-market trading on Thursday following the announcement.
Huang’s Legacy and Nvidia’s AI Dominance
Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and spearheaded the company for over three decades, transforming it from a niche graphics chip maker into a formidable supplier of processors essential for artificial intelligence systems. Under his leadership, Nvidia’s chips became central to the global AI industry, elevating the company to one of the world’s most valuable technology enterprises.