Nov. 13 — Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang has stepped down from his leadership roles following escalating controversy over alleged workplace affairs—including ties to a suspected Chinese espionage operative and a second company executive—prompting Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk to state that hiring the departing semiconductor pioneer would be “an honor.”
In a corporate announcement issued Thursday morning, the Silicon Valley chipmaker confirmed that the 63-year-old co-founder had resigned as chief executive officer, president, and member of the board of directors, effective immediately, after disclosures surfaced regarding a second workplace relationship involving an internal company executive.
Ahead of the formal resignation announcement, a social media user posted a message on X late Wednesday night reading, “Elon please hire Jensen.” Musk, the 55-year-old world’s richest individual with an estimated net worth of $907 billion according to Forbes, replied directly: “That would be an honor.”
Despite Nvidia losing hundreds of billions of dollars in market capitalization since the scandal erupted earlier in the week, several prominent Silicon Valley founders and venture capitalists moved swiftly to express public support for Huang.
Palmer Luckey, billionaire co-founder of U.S. defense technology firm Anduril Industries, posted on X Wednesday night: “China wants Jensen out, so I want him in.”
Sarah Guo, Silicon Valley investor and founder of artificial intelligence venture firm Conviction, defended Huang’s leadership track record in a lengthy post: “We should demand loyalty and accountability, but sainthood cannot be the price of admission for leadership,” Guo wrote, characterizing Huang as “one of the most extraordinary entrepreneurs of all time” while arguing that “greatness does not guarantee goodness.”
Nvidia’s board of directors announced that it has initiated a formal search for a permanent successor, evaluating both internal and external candidates. The absence of a clearly designated heir apparent has heightened investor anxiety, driving sustained share price declines since Huang acknowledged a relationship with Alice Huang on Sunday.
To ensure operational continuity, the board appointed Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Colette Kress as interim CEO on Thursday; she will continue fulfilling her existing financial duties until a permanent replacement is named. Additionally, venture capitalist and former Synopsys CEO Harvey Jones will assume the newly established role of inaugural chairman of Nvidia’s board of directors.
Source: New York Post & Nvidia Corporate Governance Dispatches, Santa Clara