Nvidia founder and longtime CEO Jensen Huang has reportedly resigned after 33 years at the helm of the semiconductor giant, with Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress appointed as interim CEO amid a major leadership shake-up.
Jensen Huang, who co-founded Nvidia and transformed the company into one of the world's most influential artificial intelligence and semiconductor companies, has stepped down as CEO after more than three decades of leadership.
The company's board announced that CFO Colette Kress will take over as interim chief executive as Nvidia navigates a significant leadership transition.
The resignation comes at a challenging time for Huang and the company, following reports concerning Huang's personal relationships and increasing scrutiny over Nvidia's business and national-security implications.
The leadership change follows reports alleging that Huang had a relationship with a Nvidia executive. He had already faced scrutiny following separate reports alleging an affair with another woman who was reportedly linked to Chinese intelligence.
The reports triggered heightened attention around Nvidia's leadership and its connections to issues involving China and U.S. national security.
Nvidia's shares reportedly fell 4.34% during the crisis, wiping out approximately $182 billion from the company's market capitalization.
The controversy has also attracted attention from U.S. lawmakers. Three committees in the House of Representatives have reportedly summoned Huang for a closed-door interview.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee has requested that Huang and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testify over what he described as serious national-security concerns.
The scrutiny comes as Nvidia remains a central player in the global artificial intelligence industry, with its advanced chips playing a critical role in AI development.
U.S. President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the situation. According to a source, Trump spoke with Huang before his resignation and described the Nvidia chief as deeply affected by the impact of the controversy on his family.
Trump reportedly encouraged Huang to resist calls for his resignation and continue fighting to remain in his position.
Huang's departure marks a dramatic turning point for Nvidia, which he co-founded in 1993 and led through its transformation from a graphics-chip company into a global AI powerhouse.
The appointment of Kress as interim CEO now places Nvidia under new leadership as the company faces heightened regulatory, political and market scrutiny.
