Jensen Huang Resigns as Nvidia CEO; Colette Kress Named Interim Chief

Nvidia confirms immediate departure of its co-founder and longtime chief executive amid a controversy involving alleged extramarital relationships and national security concerns.

In a major leadership shake-up in the global technology industry, Jensen Huang has resigned as President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a member of the Board of Directors of Nvidia, effective immediately. The company officially announced the development on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
Nvidia's Board of Directors has appointed its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Colette Kress, as interim CEO. She will continue to oversee the company's finance operations while assuming the additional responsibility until a permanent successor is appointed.
According to the company's announcement, the board has initiated a search for a new chief executive and will consider both internal and external candidates.

Harvey C. Jones appointed first-ever board chair
Alongside the leadership transition, Nvidia has appointed longtime board member Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever Chair of the Board.
Jones has been associated with Nvidia's board since 1993, the year the company was founded. He brings more than three decades of experience as an entrepreneur, technology executive and venture investor.
The board expressed confidence in Colette Kress and the existing leadership team, stating that the company's operations, customer commitments and technology roadmap are expected to continue without interruption.

Controversy surrounding Jensen Huang

Huang's resignation comes amid growing controversy over reports of two extramarital relationships that attracted scrutiny over corporate governance and national security.
Reports by international media alleged that one relationship involved Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman and former executive associated with Singapore-based AI infrastructure company Megaspeed. US authorities reportedly suspected her of having links to Chinese intelligence and facilitating the transfer of advanced technology to China.

Separately, media reports alleged that Huang had another relationship with a senior Nvidia employee who reportedly worked under him.

Nvidia's board had previously announced an independent investigation into reports that its founder and CEO had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. In its November 8 statement, the board said it had no reason to believe that US national security or Nvidia's confidential information had been compromised.

About Colette Kress

Colette Kress is a seasoned American finance executive and the Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of NVIDIA. She joined the global technology giant in September 2013 and has played a significant role in steering its financial strategy and supporting its remarkable growth in the AI and semiconductor industries.
Before joining NVIDIA, she held senior finance leadership positions at Cisco, Microsoft and Texas Instruments, bringing nearly 25 years of experience in the technology sector. With her extensive financial expertise and deep understanding of NVIDIA's business, Kress is now entrusted with leading the company during a historic leadership transition.

What does Huang's departure mean for Nvidia?
Huang's exit marks the end of a 33-year leadership era at the company he co-founded in 1993. Under his leadership, Nvidia evolved from a graphics-processing chipmaker into one of the world's most influential companies in artificial intelligence and accelerated computing.
His departure comes at a critical time for the global AI industry, with Nvidia playing a central role in supplying advanced processors for AI infrastructure and data centres.
Investors and industry analysts will closely watch the board's succession process and whether the leadership transition affects Nvidia's long-term technology strategy and global business relationships.