Jensen Huang has resigned as chief executive of Nvidia, the chipmaker he co-founded more than three decades ago, Reuters reports via iTnews. He is also leaving the board.
Chief financial officer Colette Kress, who has been CFO for 13 years, is interim CEO while Nvidia searches for a permanent successor among internal and external candidates. Former Synopsys CEO and long-time director Harvey Jones has been named Nvidia’s first board chair.
Why he left
Huang’s exit follows reports about his personal relationships, including one with a businesswoman whom US authorities reportedly suspect of spying for China. Beijing has denied she is a spy. Earlier this month Nvidia’s board launched an independent probe into whether Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation, and expressed confidence in him at the time.
Nvidia has not commented beyond its statement announcing the resignation. CNBC reported that Huang has agreed to testify before the US Congress before Thanksgiving.
Who could replace him
Analysts and investors had already named Kress and veteran engineer Ian Buck, who helped build the CUDA software platform, as leading internal candidates. US President Donald Trump suggested former Apple CEO Tim Cook take the job.
One fund manager quoted by Reuters said the roadmap was largely visible, and the real risk was execution.
Why it matters
Nvidia’s chips power most of the world’s AI training, and its market value reached nearly US$6 trillion at one point, according to Reuters. Huang had pushed to keep selling into China, and US House Speaker Mike Johnson said there was a growing consensus in Congress on limiting chip exports there. A new CEO may face a tougher stance in Washington.
