Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang has resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer, ending his 33-year leadership of the American semiconductor giant, amid a reported investigation into allegations of links to a suspected Chinese intelligence operation.
The company announced the development on Thursday, November 12, 2026, confirming that Huang had also stepped down from its Board of Directors. Nvidia’s board subsequently appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Colette Kress, as interim CEO, while Harvey C. Jones was named the company’s first-ever Chairman of the Board.
The leadership shake-up comes just days before Nvidia’s third-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings announcement, scheduled for November 17, raising questions about the potential implications for the company’s management and investor confidence.
Kress will retain her position as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer while assuming additional responsibilities as interim chief executive.
The board has also commenced a search for a substantive CEO, with both internal and external candidates expected to be considered.
Kress joined Nvidia in September 2013 and has overseen its financial operations during a period of significant expansion driven by demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips and accelerated computing.
Before joining Nvidia, she spent nearly 25 years in financial leadership positions at major technology companies, including Microsoft and Cisco. Her appointment places an experienced financial executive at the helm of one of the world’s most influential semiconductor companies during a critical leadership transition.
Nvidia also announced the appointment of Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever Chairman of the Board.
Jones brings more than three decades of experience in technology management, entrepreneurship and venture investment, including previous leadership roles at Synopsys.
Commenting on the leadership changes, Jones expressed confidence in Kress and the existing management team, saying the company would remain focused on executing its technology strategy and meeting customer commitments.
He also acknowledged Huang’s contributions to Nvidia’s growth and development over the past three decades.
Kress, meanwhile, pledged to build on the foundation established by Huang while maintaining the company’s commitment to customers, partners, developers and shareholders.
Huang’s departure follows days of controversy surrounding his leadership, including reports of an investigation into allegations that he had a relationship with a woman suspected of having links to Chinese intelligence.
Huang’s departure comes after years of extraordinary growth that transformed Nvidia from a major graphics processing unit manufacturer into a central player in the global artificial intelligence industry.
The company became the first publicly traded business to reach a $4 trillion market valuation in July 2025, reflecting investor enthusiasm for its AI chips and data centre technologies.
However, Apple overtook Nvidia as the world’s most valuable company in July 2026, highlighting changing investor sentiment towards major technology stocks.
The immediate challenge for Nvidia’s new leadership will be to maintain the company’s growth trajectory, sustain relationships with major technology customers and preserve investor confidence during the transition.
Investors will also be watching closely as Nvidia prepares to release its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results on Tuesday, November 17, at approximately 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time, followed by an earnings conference call at 2 p.m.
The results are expected to provide fresh insight into the company’s financial performance and the continuing demand for AI infrastructure.
