Nvidia board prepares to oust CEO Jensen Huang amid affair allegations — report

Detailed summary

The chipmaker's board prepares to decide Huang's future following reports of relationships with a company executive and a woman identified by US officials as a suspected Chinese intelligence asset.

Nvidia's board of directors has prepared to oust Chief Executive Jensen Huang following revelations that the tech billionaire engaged in two extramarital affairs, including one with an alleged Chinese intelligence operative and another with a subordinate executive, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The board is preparing to convene as early as Wednesday evening to determine Huang's future at the helm of the artificial intelligence chipmaker.

The development comes after The New York Times reported that Huang, 63, maintained an undisclosed relationship with Kimberly Powell, 48, Nvidia's vice president of health care.

Market reaction was immediate, with Nvidia shares sliding roughly 8 percent in after-hours trading.

According to former staff members, Huang and Powell were captured on video being affectionate at a San Jose hotel during Nvidia’s annual developer conference in March.

Members of Huang's security detail reportedly witnessed a bystander filming the exchange on a mobile phone, sequestered the individual, and offered a non-disclosure agreement.

Powell, who joined Nvidia in 2008 and rose to lead its health care and medical imaging initiatives, regularly represents the company on global stages.

Under Nvidia's corporate code of conduct, employees are instructed to avoid conflicts of interest, including personal relationships with direct subordinates.

When questioned by telephone regarding the relationship on Wednesday, Huang responded: "I don't think you should be talking to me directly," before disconnecting the call.

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