Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Resigns Immediately Amid National Security Scrutiny; Colette Kress Named Interim CEO
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA — November 12, 2026. Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang has resigned immediately as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board, ending a 33-year tenure at the artificial intelligence chip giant. Nvidia confirmed the leadership change in an official announcement Thursday.
Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress will serve as interim CEO while the board considers internal and external candidates for a permanent successor. Longtime director Harvey C. Jones has been appointed the company’s first board chair.
Why Huang resigned
The resignation follows reports concerning Huang’s personal relationships and national-security questions about whether he was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. Nvidia’s board announced an independent investigation on November 8. The board emphasized at the time that it had no reason to believe national security or Nvidia trade secrets had been compromised.
Reporting has focused on Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, an executive at a technology company who has been described in news reports as suspected by U.S. intelligence of ties to Chinese espionage. These allegations have not been adjudicated publicly. Huang acknowledged marital infidelity in a message to employees, apologized to his family and colleagues, and pledged cooperation with the board’s review.
The existence of an investigation does not establish espionage, criminal wrongdoing, or any compromise of Nvidia technology.
Who is Colette Kress?
Kress joined Nvidia as chief financial officer in 2013, after senior finance roles at Cisco, Microsoft and Texas Instruments. She has helped guide the company’s finances through rapid growth in AI infrastructure. She will remain CFO while serving as interim CEO, according to reporting on the transition.
Why this matters to the AI industry
Nvidia’s processors power a significant share of the world’s AI data centers. Huang’s departure creates uncertainty for customers, chip suppliers and investors who relied on his long-standing leadership and relationships. Nvidia shares declined sharply following the announcement, according to Reuters.
The board says it expects operations, customer commitments and the product roadmap to continue without interruption. Nvidia’s next quarterly earnings report is scheduled for November 17.
What happens next?
The board will search for a permanent CEO, while its independent inquiry continues. Investors and policymakers will watch for findings about the reported foreign-intelligence concerns and for signs of continuity in Nvidia’s chip development and export-policy strategy.
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Sources: Nvidia official CEO transition announcement; Nvidia board statement, November 8; Reuters; TechCrunch.
