Jensen Huang faces second affair claim as Nvidia board considers his future

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Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is facing new allegations of a second affair, this time with a senior executive at the chip maker, as the company's board meets to decide…

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is facing new allegations of a second affair, this time with a senior executive at the chip maker, as the company's board meets to decide whether he should keep his job.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Mr Huang had a relationship with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia's vice president of health care and one of his about 60 direct reports, quoting five people who have worked at the company. Ms Powell has been with Nvidia for more than 18 years.

Nvidia has declined to comment on the allegation and has not said whether its board inquiry, launched on Sunday into Mr Huang's relationship with Alice Huang and led by law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, will be widened to cover it. The company's code of conduct addresses conflicts arising from personal relationships and requires reported misconduct to be investigated.

The allegation came days after Mr Huang admitted he had been “unfaithful” to his wife, following reports of a relationship with Alice Huang, a businesswoman whom US investigators accuse of spying for China. Nvidia's board opened an inquiry into whether he had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation, while expressing confidence in his leadership. China has called the allegations “entirely groundless”.

The Wall Street Journal reported late on Wednesday that the board was preparing to oust Mr Huang. Directors have also hired an outside firm to identify possible replacements, according to reports. Under Nvidia's bylaws, a majority of its 11 directors, all of whom, except Mr Huang, are independent, can remove the chief executive “with or without cause”.

Nvidia shares, which closed 2.9 per cent higher at $173.73 on Wednesday, fell more than 8 per cent in after-hours trading.

The fallout extends well beyond the boardroom. Nvidia's chips underpin the global AI build-out, from US technology giants to sovereign projects in the Gulf, and the scandal has emboldened lawmakers seeking tighter controls on where those chips can…

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