Nvidia founder Jensen Huang has stepped down as the company’s CEO and a board member, TechCrunch reported on Nov. 12, citing developments it says followed reports of extramarital affairs. TechCrunch also said chief financial officer Colette Kress had become interim CEO and that Nvidia had not named a permanent successor.
The Verge published a piece about Huang’s alleged affairs on Nov. 13. TechCrunch’s account, citing Reuters, adds a separate allegation: Huang had an affair with an Nvidia employee whose name Reuters is withholding. The employee has not been publicly identified in the reporting provided here.
What has been reported?
TechCrunch says the newly reported allegation is separate from two previously reported relationships: one involving Alice Huang, whom TechCrunch describes as an accused spy, and another involving Nvidia vice president of healthcare Kimberly Powell. These are allegations about Huang’s private conduct; the accounts do not provide his response or describe evidence supporting each claim.
The same TechCrunch report says Huang has been called before Congress in the coming weeks to testify about the national security implications of his relationship with Alice Huang. That is a different issue from the newly reported relationship with the unnamed employee. The report does not give a hearing date, identify the committee, or say what testimony lawmakers will request.
What remains unclear?
TechCrunch says the departure happened earlier on Nov. 12, but the accounts do not explain the circumstances or give a statement from Nvidia confirming the leadership change. They also do not say whether the unnamed employee still works at the company, or whether the reported relationship is connected to the expected congressional hearing.
TechCrunch says Huang’s departure is expected to have significant repercussions for the wider industry, but it does not detail what those effects might be. For now, the concrete changes it reports are at the top of Nvidia: Huang is said to have left two roles, and Kress is serving as interim CEO while the company looks for a permanent successor.
Why it matters
For Nvidia employees and investors, the reported departure of the founder from both the CEO role and board would mean an immediate leadership change, with CFO Colette Kress temporarily in charge. The accounts do not confirm Nvidia’s statement on the change or say who will take the permanent role.
