Why did Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resign, and who is Colette Kress?

Detailed summary

Huang has stepped down amid revelations about extramarital affairs and allegations of Chinese espionage.

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has resigned following revelations that he had two extramarital affairs.

Nvidia’s chief financial officer, Colette Kress, has taken over as interim CEO while the company looks for a permanent replacement.

The company controls an estimated 90 percent of the market for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips and is one of the world’s most valuable companies.

Huang stepped down on Thursday following several days of intense scrutiny over his personal relationships and potential national security issues.

On Sunday, Huang admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and apologised to his family and to Nvidia employees.

Huang moved to the United States from Taiwan as a child. His wife, Lori, has been with him since before he cofounded Nvidia in 1993.

Nvidia’s board initially backed Huang, saying on Sunday that it had confidence in his leadership. It also launched an independent investigation into reports that he had been targeted by Chinese intelligence.

But on Wednesday, the Reuters news agency reported the board was meeting to consider whether to remove him following further revelations of a relationship with Kimberly Powell, a senior Nvidia executive who reported directly to him.

The company announced his resignation on Thursday. Huang also resigned from the board, ending his 33-year tenure as chief executive.

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