Jensen Huang resigns as NVIDIA CEO after 33 years in the role

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is stepping down after more than 30 years at of one of the world’s most influential technology companies.

The 63-year-old billionaire’s departure marks the end of an era for the chipmaker, which has become a major force in the global artificial intelligence boom under his leadership.

His resignation comes amid mounting controversy surrounding allegations of personal relationships and a reported foreign intelligence investigation, which prompted increased scrutiny of his position at the company.

The move comes at a pivotal moment for NVIDIA, which has become a central player in the global race to develop increasingly powerful artificial intelligence technology.

It also raises questions about who can take over from Huang and whether the company can maintain its extraordinary momentum without the man who built it.

NVIDIA’s board said in a statement: “Jensen’s contributions to NVIDIA are profound.”

The company also thanked him for ‘his immeasurable contributions to the company and the industry’.

Colette Kress will take over as interim CEO

The future looks uncertain for the tech company, as NVIDIA has confirmed that its chief financial officer, Colette Kress, will take over as interim CEO while the board considers candidates for a permanent replacement.

Kress has been with the company since 2013 and has played a major role in managing its finances throughout its rapid expansion.

She previously held senior finance positions at Microsoft, Cisco and Texas Instruments, making her one of the company’s most experienced executives.

Huang has also stepped down from his position on NVIDIA’s board of directors, with the company appointing entrepreneur and investor Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever chairman.

The leadership change comes at a particularly important moment for NVIDIA, which has become one of the world’s most valuable companies thanks to its dominance in the AI chip market.

The controversy surrounding Huang’s departure

The resignation follows days of intense scrutiny surrounding Huang’s personal life and reports about relationships involving the NVIDIA boss.

Media reports linked Huang to Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based technology company Megaspeed International.

The reports attracted attention after questions were raised about her alleged connections to foreign intelligence, although the claims have not been independently verified.

NVIDIA’s board announced on November 8 that it was launching an independent investigation into the reports, adding that it had no reason to believe the company’s confidential information had been compromised.

Huang subsequently acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in a message to employees, taking responsibility for his actions.

The developments placed Huang’s private life under an unusually intense spotlight, with questions emerging about how the controversy could affect the company he had spent more than three decades building.

Huang leaves behind a huge legacy at NVIDIA

Huang co-founded NVIDIA in 1993 alongside Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, initially building the business around graphics technology for computers and video games.

The company went on to develop graphics processing units (GPUs), which would eventually become some of the most important components in modern gaming computers.

While NVIDIA first made its name supplying technology for the gaming industry, its chips have since become essential to artificial intelligence development.

Its processors are now used to train and run some of the world’s most advanced AI systems, helping the company become one of the biggest names in the technology industry.

Huang also became one of the most recognizable faces in tech, with his trademark black leather jacket becoming almost as famous as his product announcements.

Under his leadership, NVIDIA transformed from a relatively small graphics technology business into a global powerhouse at the center of the AI boom.

His departure marks a significant change for the company, which must now work out how to maintain its momentum and continue developing its technology under new leadership.