Jensen Huang resigns after 33 years at Nvidia; Colette Kress takes interim charge

Jensen Huang has resigned as Nvidia’s president, chief executive and board member with immediate effect, according to media reports, ending a 33-year tenure at the company he co-founded in 1993. Nvidia’s board announced his departure on Thursday and appointed chief financial officer Colette Kress as interim chief executive.

The departure follows reports of two extramarital relationships. Huang had previously acknowledged a relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman whom US authorities reportedly suspect of having links to Chinese intelligence. Beijing has denied that allegation.

Huang apologised to his wife, his family and Nvidia employees. Reports subsequently alleged that he had also had a relationship with a senior Nvidia executive who reported directly to him.

Nvidia’s board said it had no reason to believe that US national security or the company’s confidential information had been compromised. Kress will serve as interim chief executive while directors search for a permanent replacement. Nvidia shares fell sharply following the announcement.

Nvidia’s leadership arrangements announced on 12 November 2026 also included the appointment of Harvey C. Jones as its first board chair. Kress will remain responsible for finances as executive vice president and chief financial officer during her interim tenure, while the board considers candidates from within and outside Nvidia. Jones praised her understanding of the business, its customers, operations and financial position, and said the board expected customer commitments, operations and product plans to continue without interruption.

Nvidia had already faced a potential $270 billion reduction in market value on Monday, 9 November 2026, after directors opened an independent investigation into allegations that Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. Shares declined more than 6% in Frankfurt trading, according to LSEG Datastream figures cited in media reports. In US premarket trading, they fell more than 5% to about $177.53, compared with Friday’s closing price of $186.64, extending the previous week’s losses and reaching a multi-month low.

Reports on 9 November 2026 identified Alice Huang as a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed. US authorities reportedly suspected that she was a Chinese intelligence asset who had passed information to Beijing. Beijing dismissed those allegations as baseless.