Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Resigns Amid Affair Scandal, Colette Kress Named Interim Chief Executive

Nvidia has announced the immediate resignation of its co-founder and chief executive, Jensen Huang, following a controversy involving reports of two alleged extramarital relationships. The departure marks a major leadership change at the artificial intelligence chipmaker, which Huang helped establish more than three decades ago.

The company confirmed on Thursday, 12 November, that Huang had resigned as president, chief executive officer and a member of its board of directors. His departure comes after reports linked him to a Chinese businesswoman suspected by US authorities of espionage activities on behalf of Beijing. Separate reports also alleged that he had been involved in a relationship with a senior Nvidia executive who reported directly to him.

In its announcement, Nvidia said: "Board of Directors announced today that Jensen Huang has resigned as president, chief executive officer, and a member of the board, effective immediately."

The company added: "Jensen’s contributions to NVIDIA are profound. NVIDIA is one of the most consequential technology companies in the world. The Board and the company thank Jensen for his immeasurable contributions to the company and the industry."

Colette Kress Appointed Interim Nvidia CEO As Board Searches For Successor

Following Huang's departure, Nvidia has appointed its chief financial officer, Colette Kress, as interim chief executive officer. She will retain her existing financial responsibilities while taking charge of the company until a permanent replacement is selected.

The board has confirmed that its search for a new CEO will consider both internal and external candidates.

Kress joined Nvidia in September 2013 as executive vice-president and chief financial officer. Before moving to the chipmaker, she spent almost 25 years working in finance positions at major technology companies, including Cisco and Microsoft.

During her time at Nvidia, she has overseen the company's financial operations and contributed to its expansion and development into one of the world's most valuable technology businesses.

Nvidia has also appointed Harvey C Jones as the first-ever chairman of its board of directors. Jones brings more than three decades of experience as an entrepreneur, technology executive and venture investor. His previous positions include serving as chief executive officer and executive chairman of Synopsys.

Commenting on Kress's appointment, Jones said: "Colette has helped lead NVIDIA through a period of extraordinary growth and has a deep understanding of our business, customers, operations and financial position."

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He added: "She is supported by an experienced leadership team that has been instrumental in executing NVIDIA’s strategy and advancing its technology roadmap. The Board has full confidence in Colette and the leadership team, and we expect the company’s operations, customer commitments and product roadmap to continue without interruption."

Kress also addressed the leadership transition, expressing her commitment to maintaining Nvidia's direction and continuing its work in artificial intelligence and accelerated computing.

"Our strength has always come from its people, and together with our leadership team, I am committed to building on the extraordinary foundation Jensen created over the last 33 years," said Colette Kress, Interim CEO and CFO, NVIDIA.

She continued: "We will continue advancing the work that has made NVIDIA a leader in accelerated computing and AI, and execute on the opportunities ahead. Our focus remains on serving our customers, partners, developers and shareholders."

Jensen Huang Resignation Follows Reports Of Two Alleged Affairs

Huang's exit follows mounting scrutiny over reports concerning his personal relationships. One alleged relationship involved a Chinese businesswoman identified in media reports as Alice Huang, a former senior executive at Singapore-based technology company Megaspeed.

US authorities reportedly suspected the businesswoman of having links to Chinese intelligence and passing information to Beijing. The allegations have also prompted national security concerns, with the FBI investigating the matter.

Nvidia's board had previously announced an independent investigation into reports that its founder and CEO had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. In an earlier statement, the company said it had no reason to believe that its national security interests or confidential information had been compromised.

The situation became more complicated following reports of a separate alleged relationship between Huang and a senior Nvidia employee who reportedly reported directly to him.

According to a person familiar with the matter, Nvidia's board convened on Wednesday to discuss Huang's future at the company. The meeting came amid growing attention surrounding the allegations and their potential implications for the company's leadership.

Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and became one of the most influential figures in the global technology industry through the company's development of graphics processing units and AI computing technology.

He also holds a substantial ownership interest in the business, with the supplied reports putting his stake at approximately 3.61%, making him one of Nvidia's largest shareholders.

Nvidia Maintains Business Operations Ahead Of November 17 Earnings

Despite the leadership shake-up, Nvidia has indicated that its business activities, customer commitments and product development plans will continue without interruption under Kress's interim leadership.

The company is also preparing to release its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results on Tuesday, 17 November, as previously scheduled.

According to the announcement, the results will be published at approximately 1:20 pm, followed by an earnings conference call at 2 pm.

The upcoming financial update will be closely watched as Nvidia navigates the leadership transition and begins its search for a permanent chief executive.

Huang's departure brings an end to his 33-year tenure at the company he co-founded, while Kress takes on the responsibility of leading Nvidia through its next chapter in the rapidly expanding AI industry.