Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang resigned as CEO and board member effective immediately on November 12, and Nvidia named CFO Colette Kress interim chief executive while beginning to search for a permanent successor amid scrutiny of reports about Huang’s personal relationships.
Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and led it for 33 years as its chips became central to the growth of artificial intelligence. Kress will keep her CFO role while serving as interim CEO. She has led Nvidia’s finance organization since joining in 2013.
The board said it would consider both internal and external candidates for the permanent position. It appointed longtime board member Harvey C. Jones as its first chair. Nvidia said it expected operations, customer commitments and its product roadmap to continue without interruption.
The resignation followed reports of Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, a businesswoman whom U.S. intelligence reportedly suspects of having ties to Chinese intelligence. Jensen Huang and Alice Huang are not related. Jensen Huang apologized for being unfaithful to his wife.
Nvidia’s announcement did not state a reason for his departure. Separately, The New York Times reported allegations of a relationship between Huang and a Nvidia executive. The Times said it had not seen video cited in its reporting.
The claims have brought renewed attention to Nvidia’s leadership transition and national-security concerns connected to a company whose chips are central to the AI industry.