Colette Kress named interim CEO
Nvidia has appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim chief executive officer following the resignation of company founder and former CEO Jensen Huang. The announcement was made in early November 2026.
Huang stepped down amid multiple allegations of extramarital affairs, including one involving an alleged Chinese national and two reported cases with current or former employees. These claims were first raised publicly by media outlets and have since been cited in several reports on technology news platforms.
Kress, who joined Nvidia in 2013 after roles at Texas Instruments, Microsoft, and Cisco, will serve both as interim CEO and interim CFO until a permanent successor is appointed. She has participated regularly in the company’s quarterly earnings calls and oversaw its transformation from a niche video game chip manufacturer to a trillion-dollar leader in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Leadership transition under scrutiny
The board of directors has confirmed it is launching an internal and external search for Huang's full-time replacement. While no official list of candidates has been released, several names have emerged through industry reporting:
- Ian Buck: A senior executive who manages Nvidia’s AI hardware and software products since 2004. He leads partnerships with major global tech firms including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI. His experience aligns closely with the company’s current strategic focus on generative artificial intelligence.
- Rene Haas: Former vice president and general manager at Nvidia before joining Arm Holdings in 2013 as CEO. He is known for his technical background and leadership roles within semiconductor design.
- Lisa Su: Current CEO of AMD, Nvidia's most direct competitor. She has been cited by industry sources as a potential candidate due to her proximity to Huang—both are members of extended family networks—and her deep understanding of chip technology markets.
Harvey C Jones, the newly appointed chair of Nvidia’s board, stated: "Colette has helped lead Nvidia through a period of extraordinary growth and has a deep understanding of our business, customers, operations and financial position. The board has full confidence in Colette and the leadership team."
Kress emphasized that "Nvidia’s strength has always come from its people" and affirmed her commitment to building on Jensen Huang's legacy over 33 years at the company. She also noted she will serve as both CEO and interim CFO until the board completes its search.
Context: AI dominance and corporate stakes
Nvidia is central to the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. Its advanced chips power training models used by OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and other leading firms. The company holds a market capitalization of approximately $4 trillion—making it one of the most valuable in the world—and plays a pivotal role in U.S. economic strategy related to high-tech innovation.
The leadership transition occurs just before Nvidia’s scheduled release of third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, November 16, 2026. Market analysts have expressed concern about potential instability during this period, particularly given that Huang had previously shaped key aspects of corporate culture through an unusually hands-on management style involving around 60 direct reports.
Neither Huang's son nor daughter has been identified as having sufficient experience or formal qualifications for CEO-level responsibilities. While they work at Nvidia, no public statements confirm their involvement in the succession process.
All information presented is derived from publicly available reporting by The Guardian and other industry sources. No independent verification beyond these materials was conducted. Allegations regarding personal conduct remain unproven; such claims are reported without confirmation of factual accuracy or legal validation.