The End of an Era at Nvidia: Jensen Huang Resigns as CEO

Nvidia, one of the most influential companies in the artificial intelligence industry, is facing a historic leadership change. Jensen Huang, the company's co-founder and chief executive for 33 years, has resigned from both his position as CEO and his seat on the board of directors. The announcement, made by Nvidia on November 12, 2026, sent shockwaves through the technology and financial sectors. Following Huang's departure, the company appointed longtime Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO.

According to Nvidia's official filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the board accepted Huang's resignation on November 11, with the decision taking effect immediately. Kress will lead the company on an interim basis while the board searches for a permanent successor. She will also retain her CFO responsibilities during the transition. Meanwhile, Harvey C. Jones was appointed as the company's first-ever chairman of the board. Nvidia confirmed that both internal and external candidates would be considered for the permanent CEO position.

Allegations that preceded the resignation

Huang's departure came after a series of serious allegations attracted international attention. According to a report by The New York Times, Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang, who was reportedly close to the Nvidia chief, was suspected of passing information to Beijing. Reports citing U.S. intelligence sources suggested that Alice Huang may have had connections to Chinese intelligence and that her business relationships involving Nvidia's advanced chips were being scrutinized.

Her links to Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed also became part of the controversy. The company had previously faced allegations that advanced Nvidia processors were being unlawfully shipped to China. However, these allegations do not establish that Alice Huang committed a crime or that Nvidia's trade secrets were transferred to the Chinese government. Beijing has also rejected the espionage claims, describing them as unfounded.

On November 8, Jensen Huang sent an apology to Nvidia employees, acknowledging that he had been unfaithful to his wife. He accepted responsibility for the impact of his actions on his wife and children and expressed regret to his colleagues. However, he did not identify anyone by name or directly address the allegations involving Alice Huang.

The controversy did not end there. The New York Times and other media outlets subsequently reported that Huang had allegedly been involved in another relationship with an Nvidia executive who reported directly to him. These claims have not been independently established. Nevertheless, the successive reports intensified pressure surrounding the company's leadership and Huang's future.

Nvidia's board had announced an independent investigation on November 8 following reports raising national security concerns. In its initial statement, the company said it had no reason to believe that either U.S. national security or Nvidia's trade secrets had been compromised, while emphasizing that all available information would be examined. On November 10, the board announced that it had retained independent legal counsel to oversee the investigation. Huang's resignation came while that review was still underway.

Colette Kress takes over as interim CEO

Colette Kress, who will lead Nvidia during the transition, has served as the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2013. Before joining Nvidia, she held various finance positions at major technology companies, including Cisco and Microsoft. She will continue to serve as CFO while taking on the interim CEO role.

Nvidia's board believes Kress's extensive knowledge of the company's financial position, operations and business relationships will provide stability during the transition. New board chair Harvey C. Jones also expressed confidence in the existing leadership team, stating that the company expects its operations, customer commitments and product roadmap to continue without interruption. A permanent successor has yet to be selected.

Nvidia shares experience a sharp sell-off

News of Huang's departure triggered significant volatility in Nvidia shares. Investors, accustomed to seeing the company led by the same person for more than three decades, began weighing the potential consequences of the leadership change for Nvidia and the broader AI industry.

The stock fell by more than 10% in premarket trading on November 12. During the regular session, losses briefly reached approximately 14%. Nvidia shares later recovered some of their losses and closed the day down around 4.3%. Although the initial market reaction moderated, the leadership transition remained a major source of uncertainty for investors.

Who is Jensen Huang?

Born in Taiwan on February 17, 1963, Jensen Huang is 63 years old. He studied electrical engineering at Oregon State University before earning a master's degree in the same field from Stanford University. He began his career in the semiconductor industry, working at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) from 1984 to 1985 and at LSI Logic between 1985 and 1993.

In 1993, Huang co-founded Nvidia alongside Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem. Initially focused on computer graphics and gaming technology, the company gradually expanded into a much broader range of computing markets. Its graphics processing units became essential components in the development and operation of modern artificial intelligence systems, helping Nvidia become one of the world's most influential technology companies.

Huang's achievements have also received recognition from leading business publications. Fortune named him Businessperson of the Year in 2017. Two years later, Harvard Business Review ranked him first on its list of the world's 100 best-performing CEOs, based on their performance throughout their tenures.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Huang's net worth stood at approximately $144.5 billion before news of his resignation. This is an estimate that can fluctuate with changes in Nvidia's share price.

A new chapter for the artificial intelligence industry?

Huang's departure represents more than a change of leadership at Nvidia. The company has become a central player in the global technology race through the processors that power much of today's AI infrastructure. Huang was instrumental in that transformation, shaping Nvidia's strategy and technological vision for more than three decades.

Attention is now turning to how Colette Kress will manage the company during the interim period and whom the board will ultimately select as its permanent CEO. The outcome of the independent investigation and any further developments surrounding the national security allegations could also influence Nvidia's future.

With Huang's departure, a 33-year chapter in Nvidia's history has come to an end. Whether the company can maintain its leading position in the global AI race under a new leadership structure will be one of the most important questions facing the technology industry in the months ahead.