Difficult period, move forward together: Nvidia to staff after Jensen Huang exit

Detailed summary

Nvidia's interim CEO Colette Kress has urged employees to “move forward together” after Jensen Huang's exit amid controversy over his two affairs. In an internal email, she acknowledged an “extraordinarily difficult period” and reaffirmed the company's commitment to the AI industry.

Nvidia's leadership has urged employees to remain focussed on the company's future and its role in powering the AI revolution, following the exit of its co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang on Thursday amid the Chinese 'spy' affair scandal.

The 63-year-old's exit came amid scrutiny over his two alleged affairs. One involved Alice Huang, a woman suspected by US authorities of having links to Chinese intelligence. The second allegedly involved Kimberly Powell, Nvidia's vice president of healthcare, who was said to report directly to Jensen Huang.

In an internal email to its employees, Nvidia's newly appointed interim CEO Colette Kress acknowledged that the company was going through an “extraordinarily difficult period” and thanked staff for their resilience, professionalism and continued dedication.

“I believe deeply in this company and in its future. More than anything, I believe in each of you, in our customers and partners and in the vital role we play every day in the global economy,” Kress wrote.

She said the company's achievements were the result of employees' collective efforts and described them as Nvidia's “greatest strength”.

Kress also urged employees to look ahead, saying the company had important work to do in developing technology powering the AI revolution. “So let's move forward together, with the same determination and commitment that have always defined this company,” she said.

The email also announced a company-wide meeting scheduled for November 18 at 9 am Pacific Time, where employees are expected to hear more from the leadership about the company's future.

In a separate email to employees, Harvey Jones, who was appointed Nvidia's first-ever board chair, announced that Jensen Huang had resigned as CEO and board member, and that Kress would take over as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor.

Jones said the search would consider both internal and external candidates.

Opening of the article, excerpted from India Today. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.