Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang has resigned as president, chief executive officer, and board member, effective immediately. The company has appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while its board searches for a permanent replacement.
The resignation ends Huang’s 33-year run leading Nvidia, the company he co-founded and built into a major force in artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Why Huang stepped down
The decision followed days of scrutiny over reports of extramarital relationships involving Huang. One report linked him to a woman whom U.S. officials allegedly suspected of acting for Chinese intelligence.
Huang publicly acknowledged that he had been unfaithful to his wife and apologized to his family and Nvidia employees. He said he would cooperate fully with the company’s investigation.
Nvidia’s board said it launched an independent investigation after reporting that Huang may have been targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. The board said it had “no reason to believe” that national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, but would examine all available information.
Who leads Nvidia now
Colette Kress, Nvidia’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, will serve as interim CEO. She will continue in her CFO role until a permanent successor is selected.
| Role | Person | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Former CEO | Jensen Huang | Resigned from CEO, president, and board roles. |
| Interim CEO | Colette Kress | Appointed while continuing as CFO. |
| Board chair | Harvey C. Jones | Named Nvidia’s first-ever board chair. |
Nvidia said its board has full confidence in Kress and the leadership team. It expects operations, customer commitments, and product plans to continue without interruption.
What happens next
Nvidia has begun searching for a permanent CEO and will consider candidates from both inside and outside the company. The board has also formed an independent committee, supported by outside counsel, to oversee the investigation.
The situation is significant because Nvidia supplies chips used in advanced AI systems and data centers. Its leadership transition comes at a sensitive time for the global AI industry and the technology competition between the United States and China.
