Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang has resigned as the company’s president and chief executive officer, ending a 33-year leadership chapter at the chipmaker that became the centre of the global artificial intelligence boom. Nvidia confirmed the change on November 12, 2026, saying the resignation is effective immediately. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has been appointed interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor.
The development is one of the biggest leadership changes in the technology industry this year. Huang also resigned from Nvidia’s board. The company appointed director Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever board chair.
What Nvidia officially announced
In its November 12 announcement, Nvidia said Kress would continue as executive vice president and CFO while taking on the interim CEO role. The board said it would consider both internal and external candidates for the permanent position.
Nvidia said the leadership transition would not interrupt its operations, customer commitments or product roadmap. The company’s third-quarter fiscal 2027 results remain scheduled for November 17.
Why did Jensen Huang leave Nvidia?
The resignation followed intense scrutiny of reports concerning Huang’s personal relationships and a separate investigation into whether he had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. Reuters and other media outlets reported that Nvidia’s board had discussed his future after reports of alleged relationships involving a businesswoman suspected by US authorities of links to Chinese intelligence and a company executive.
Huang had acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in an internal message, according to media reports. Allegations concerning espionage and the individuals involved remain allegations; they should not be treated as established findings. China has denied the spying allegations, and the company’s formal resignation announcement did not cite personal conduct as the reason for the departure.
Bloomberg described the move as an ouster by the board, while Nvidia’s official statement describes it as Huang’s resignation. This article uses the company’s formal wording for the confirmed corporate action and separately attributes media reporting about the circumstances.
Who is Colette Kress, Nvidia’s interim CEO?
Colette Kress joined Nvidia in September 2013 and has led the company’s finance organisation as CFO. Before joining Nvidia, she held finance roles at major technology companies including Cisco and Microsoft. She will hold both the interim CEO and CFO roles until a permanent chief executive is appointed.
Reuters reported that Kress has often challenged some of Huang’s more aggressive investment and financing decisions. Her immediate task will be to reassure customers, suppliers, employees and investors while maintaining the company’s technology and business plans.
What happens to Nvidia’s AI business now?
Nvidia is a central supplier of graphics processing units and accelerated-computing systems used to train and run artificial intelligence models. Its CUDA software ecosystem, data-centre products and relationships with cloud providers have helped make it a key part of the global AI infrastructure market.
Huang’s departure raises questions about long-term product strategy, major customer relationships and the company’s approach to financing AI infrastructure. However, Nvidia has said its operations, customer commitments and product roadmap are expected to continue without interruption under the interim leadership arrangement.
How did the market react?
Reuters reported that Nvidia shares fell sharply after the departure announcement, before recovering part of the decline. Investors are assessing whether the company can maintain its pace of innovation and strategic direction without the founder who led it for more than three decades. Market prices move continuously, so readers should consult live market data for the latest quote.
What to watch next
- The board’s search for a permanent CEO and whether an internal or external candidate is selected.
- Nvidia’s third-quarter fiscal 2027 results and management commentary scheduled for November 17.
- Any further company statements or verified findings from the board’s investigation.
- Whether the leadership change affects Nvidia’s AI chip roadmap, partnerships and investment commitments.
Sources and further reading
- Nvidia official announcement: CEO transition, November 12, 2026
- Reuters: Colette Kress becomes Nvidia’s interim CEO, November 13, 2026
- Reuters report: Jensen Huang steps down, November 12, 2026
- Bloomberg: Nvidia’s board removes Huang as CEO, November 12, 2026
Editorial note: The allegations described above are attributed to media reports and have not been presented as proven facts. Nvidia’s formal statement confirms the resignation and interim appointment, but does not state a reason for Huang’s departure.
