Jensen Huang resigns as NVIDIA CEO amid affair controversies
What's the story
NVIDIA has announced a major leadership change with the resignation of its long-time President and CEO, Jensen Huang. The decision is effective immediately. Colette Kress, the company's current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will take over as the Interim Chief Executive Officer until a permanent successor is found.
Reasons
What led to Huang's departure from NVIDIA
Huang's resignation follows a series of personal and corporate controversies that put his leadership under scrutiny.
One of the key triggers was a series of reports about his alleged relationships with women, including Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang and NVIDIA's VP of healthcare Kimberly Powell.
Earlier this week, Huang admitted in an email to NVIDIA employees that he had been unfaithful to his wife and apologized to his family and colleagues.
Board appointment
Harvey C. Jones appointed as Chair of the Board
In another significant development, NVIDIA's Board of Directors has appointed Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever Chair.
Jones is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology executive with over 30 years of experience, including his tenure as CEO and Executive Chairman at Synopsys.
His appointment marks a new chapter in NVIDIA's leadership journey amid these major changes.
Leadership transition
Kress's extensive background in tech and finance
Kress has been with NVIDIA since September 2013, leading the company's finance organization and contributing to its growth.
Before joining NVIDIA, she spent nearly 25 years in finance roles at major tech firms like Cisco and Microsoft.
As Interim CEO, Kress will continue her role as EVP and CFO.
Uncertainty looms
Huang's departure could have far-reaching implications
Huang, who co-founded NVIDIA and is its fourth-largest investor with a stake of about 3.61%, will not remain on the board.
His exit has raised questions over NVIDIA's future and the AI ecosystem it helped create by investing in cloud providers, suppliers, and industry labs.
The move could also impact US chip export policy due to Huang's advocacy for maintaining access to China and his close relationship with US President Donald Trump.