'Profound’ And 'Immeasurable’: Nvidia’s Farewell To Huang Skips The Scandal That Ended His Reign

Nvidia has described Jensen Huang's contribution to the company as “profound” and called it one of the world's most consequential technology businesses, stopping short of explaining why its co-founder has resigned as president and CEO with immediate effect.

The board thanked Huang for his “immeasurable contributions” to Nvidia and the wider technology industry, but its announcement offered no direct reference to the controversy surrounding his reported relationships and allegations of Chinese intelligence links.

The carefully worded statement marks a strikingly restrained response to the departure of an executive who led Nvidia for 33 years. The company did not disclose whether the reported affair controversy or the allegations involving a suspected Chinese intelligence operation played any role in Huang's exit.

Instead, Nvidia focused on continuity. Its board has appointed longtime finance chief Colette Kress as interim CEO. She will retain her position as executive vice president and CFO until the company identifies a permanent successor. The board said it would consider both internal and external candidates.

Harvey C. Jones, who has served on Nvidia's board for more than three decades, has been appointed its first-ever chairman. He expressed confidence in Kress and the existing leadership team, saying the company's operations, customer commitments and product roadmap would continue without interruption.

Also Read | Who Is Colette Kress? Meet The Nvidia Insider Taking Over As Interim CEO After Jensen Huang's Exit

Kress, meanwhile, said her priority was to build on the foundation Huang established. She highlighted Nvidia's position in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence, signalling that the company intends to maintain its existing strategic direction despite the leadership change.

The silence on the circumstances of Huang's departure is particularly notable given the scrutiny surrounding the former CEO. Reports have linked the controversy to Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive whom US intelligence officials reportedly suspected of having connections with the Chinese government. These allegations have not been established as proven wrongdoing.

Nvidia has not announced a timeline for appointing a permanent CEO. The immediate test for Kress will be to reassure employees, customers and shareholders that the transition will not disrupt the company's growth strategy.

Also Read | Layoffs Are Rising In Tech, But These Skills Are Helping People Unlock Better Pay

Also Read | Jensen Huang Resigns As Nvidia CEO Amid Extramarital Affair Scandal

Nvidia is scheduled to announce its third-quarter fiscal 2027 results on November 17, followed by an earnings call. The results will offer investors an early opportunity to assess the company during its leadership transition.

Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.