Nvidia's board has opened an independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang after reports that he was the target of a Chinese intelligence effort and after Huang admitted to staff that he had an affair.
The board said on Sunday it had no reason to believe that national security or company secrets were compromised. Huang, 63, remains CEO while the inquiry runs.
-
Indian Markets Turning Corner After Two Tough Years, Says Sandeep Tandon -
NDTV Profit Ignite 2026: Experts See Opportunity In Equities, Stay Bullish For Long-Term -
Buy Right, Sit Tight Does Not Work for Individual Stocks, Says Dinshaw Irani -
'Worst Is Behind': Quant MF Sees Market Bottom, Flags 'Extreme Euphoria' In Midcaps -
India's Mutual Fund Industry Could Become A $1 Trillion Opportunity, Say Fund Managers -
'Foreign Investors Are Baraatis': Raamdeo Agrawal's Take On LTCG Tax -
Stay Invested Through Market Cycles: Raamdeo Agrawal at NDTV Profit Ignite -
Ramesh Damani Remains Bullish On India For Next 20-30 Years, Sees Bargains Amid Market Weakness -
CAS Came After A Long Consultation Process: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFIT IGNITE -
Aim To Cut FPI Onboarding Time From Mth To Five Days: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFI
What Has Nvidia Announced?
A committee of independent directors, assisted by outside counsel, will oversee the investigation, the board said. It added that Huang "fully supports the review" and will cooperate.
In a message to employees, Huang apologised and wrote: "I was unfaithful to my wife." The board said it continues to have confidence in him and his leadership team.
Who Is Alice Huang?
Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen and former executive at Singapore-based data centre firm Megaspeed, had reportedly built a close relationship with Huang.
According to the Times, a classified US memo said she had been recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to gather information.
ALSO READ | Jensen Huang Was the 'Mystery American': What Did Nvidia's Chief Know About Alice Huang's China Links?
Megaspeed has bought about $4.8 billion of Nvidia equipment, the Times reported. Forbes reported that the memo also said Alice Huang was under investigation for smuggling advanced Nvidia chips into China. These claims have not been proven.
Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, was a television reporter in China before moving into the technology sector. She rose to a senior executive position at Megaspeed, which has become one of Nvidia's biggest customers in Southeast Asia.
Policymakers in the Trump administration reportedly received the intelligence memo last spring, identifying her as a suspected Ministry of State Security recruit and flagging her relationship with Huang.
What Have Nvidia And China Said?
Nvidia had earlier described Huang's contacts with Alice Huang as ordinary customer interactions. Beijing has dismissed the claims as "groundless speculation," the BBC reported.
How Has Washington Reacted?
The reports have drawn criticism from both parties in the US Congress. President Donald Trump said he had not spoken to Huang, praised his work and said he would be open to taking him on his Asia trip next week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment, citing the nature of the matter.
The memo was reportedly drafted under Rubio's supervision.
ALSO READ | Can Nvidia Board Remove Jensen Huang Over Affair? Five Scenarios That Could Decide CEO's Future
Why Does It Matter?
Nvidia is the world's most valuable company Its chips power many of the data centres used to train and run AI models, and its advanced processors are central to US export controls aimed at limiting China's access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology.
The company posted quarterly profit of $59.69 billion in August.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.