Jensen Huang Resigns as NVIDIA CEO; Kress Steps In
Jensen Huang resigns as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of NVIDIA, ending his leadership of one of the world's most influential technology companies. The market has already reacted. NVIDIA announced the move on Thursday, 12 November 2026, and said Huang has also left the company's board of directors.
The announcement confirmed that Huang has stepped down with immediate effect. NVIDIA's executive vice president and chief financial officer, Colette Kress, has been appointed interim CEO while the board begins searching for a permanent replacement.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny surrounding the company's leadership, following reports about Huang's personal relationships and allegations involving a possible foreign intelligence operation. However, NVIDIA's official announcement did not provide a specific reason for why Jensen Huang resigns.
Colette Kress Takes Over as NVIDIA's Interim CEO
With Huang's departure effective immediately, Colette Kress will assume responsibility for leading NVIDIA while the company searches for a permanent chief executive. Since Jensen Huang resigns with no notice period, the search begins at once.
Kress joined NVIDIA in September 2013 and has served as its executive vice president and chief financial officer. Before joining the chipmaker, she held senior finance positions at technology companies, including Cisco and Microsoft. Her appointment places an experienced executive at the centre of NVIDIA's leadership during a crucial period for the company.
According to NVIDIA's announcement, Kress will retain her position as CFO while serving as interim CEO.
The company has also appointed Harvey C. Jones, a longtime technology executive and former Synopsys chief executive, as its first-ever chair of the board. NVIDIA says its operations, customer commitments and product roadmap are expected to continue without interruption during the transition.
Why Jensen Huang Resigns Amid Controversy
Although NVIDIA has not officially disclosed the reason behind Huang's resignation, the announcement follows several days of controversy surrounding the company's outgoing CEO.
Earlier reports from The New York Times alleged that Huang had an intimate relationship with Alice Huang. She is a former executive at Megaspeed International, a data centre company based in Singapore. US intelligence agencies reportedly suspected that she had links to Chinese intelligence. The allegations raised concerns about whether the NVIDIA CEO had been targeted in a foreign intelligence operation.
NVIDIA's board then announced an independent investigation. It said it had no reason to believe that US national security or the company's confidential information had been compromised.
The situation became more complicated on Wednesday, when The New York Times reported another alleged relationship involving Huang. This time it was with a senior NVIDIA executive who reportedly reported directly to him. These developments increased scrutiny of the company's leadership and raised questions about Huang's future.
Nevertheless, it is important to distinguish the surrounding controversy from the company's official explanation. NVIDIA's resignation announcement did not explicitly connect Huang's departure to the allegations or investigation.
What Happens to NVIDIA After Huang's Departure?
Huang's exit represents a major leadership change for NVIDIA, considering his influence on the company's development over more than three decades. He co-founded NVIDIA in 1993 and helped transform it from a graphics processing company into a global leader in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence.
Its graphics processing units (GPUs) have become essential parts in building and running modern AI systems, including large language models and other advanced computing applications.
Under Huang's leadership, NVIDIA became one of the world's most valuable publicly traded companies, benefiting greatly from the growing demand for AI infrastructure. Mr Huang's departure therefore raises important questions about the next phase for the company.
Some of the immediate issues to watch include:
- Permanent CEO appointment: NVIDIA's board has confirmed that it will consider both internal and external candidates for the position.
- AI strategy: The company will need to maintain its position in the demanding competitive AI chip market.
- Investor confidence: Shareholders will be watching how the leadership transition affects the company's direction and financial outlook.
- Business continuity: NVIDIA will need to maintain relationships with its customers, developers and technology partners during the transition.
NVIDIA Shares Come Under Pressure
The announcement has also attracted quite some attention from financial markets.
Reuters reported that NVIDIA shares fell by more than 10% in pre-market trading on Thursday following news of Huang's departure.
The reaction reflects investor concerns about the leadership transition and the potential implications for a company whose growth has been closely associated with its co-founder.
NVIDIA's influence extends beyond the semiconductor industry. Its chips power data centres, AI development, cloud computing services and other technologies used by major companies worldwide. Consequently, any uncertainty surrounding its leadership could attract attention across the broader technology sector.
Final Thoughts
Now that Jensen Huang resigns, the moment says a great deal about NVIDIA and the wider artificial intelligence industry. After more than 33 years leading the company he co-founded, his departure leaves a leadership gap. This comes at a time when demand for AI computing infrastructure continues to grow. It also comes amid the AI arms race between giant nations, the U. S and China.
As already verified for now, Colette Kress will lead the company as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. The immediate priority will be maintaining operational stability and reassuring investors, customers and technology partners that NVIDIA's long-term plans remain on course.
Further developments are expected as the company navigates its leadership transition and provides more information about its next steps.
