Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has resigned following reports of extramarital relationships, including an alleged affair with a senior company executive and another involving a woman suspected by U.S. intelligence agencies of spying for China. The company confirmed his departure on November 12, appointing Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while its board searches for a permanent replacement.
Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, has also stepped down as president and a member of the board, effective immediately. The resignation follows reports that Nvidia’s directors were preparing to remove him amid investigations into his conduct.
Reports of a Relationship With Nvidia Executive
According to The New York Times, Huang allegedly had an extramarital relationship with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare, who reported directly to him. Five people who worked at Nvidia described the alleged relationship to the newspaper, although neither Huang nor Powell has publicly confirmed the allegations.
Sources also claimed that Huang and Powell, who are both married to other people, were recorded behaving affectionately at a hotel in San Jose, California, during a company conference earlier this year. Nvidia has workplace policies discouraging romantic relationships between managers and employees who report to them.
Investigation Into Alleged Chinese Intelligence Connection
The allegations emerged while Nvidia’s board was already investigating Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman whom U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly suspect of having connections to Chinese intelligence operations. Jensen Huang previously acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife but did not publicly identify the person involved.
Nvidia’s board initiated an independent investigation into whether Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The company said it had no reason to believe its confidential information or U.S. national security had been compromised.
The controversy also attracted congressional scrutiny, with two Republican lawmakers indicating that Congress could subpoena Huang if he declined to participate voluntarily in a closed-door briefing. The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that Nvidia’s directors were preparing to remove Huang following the allegations.
Nvidia Appoints Interim CEO and Board Chair
Kress, who joined Nvidia in September 2013, will continue serving as chief financial officer while assuming the interim CEO position. Nvidia said its board will consider both internal and external candidates for the permanent role.
The company also appointed longtime director Harvey C. Jones as its first board chair. Jones has served on Nvidia’s board since 1993 and previously held leadership positions at Synopsys.
Nvidia’s board said its leadership team would continue managing the company’s operations, customer commitments, and product development plans during the transition. The company also confirmed that its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results remain scheduled for November 17.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
For more stories like it, click the +Follow button at the top of this page to follow us.