Nvidia has been thrown into turmoil after co-founder and chief executive Jensen Huang stepped down following a series of damaging reports involving two alleged extramarital affairs, one of which reportedly involved a Chinese businesswoman suspected by US authorities of having links to Beijing’s intelligence network.
The unexpected departure marks a major turning point for the American technology giant, which has become one of the world’s most influential companies amid the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI).
Huang, 63, will also leave Nvidia’s board of directors, ending his more than three-decade association with the company he helped establish.
The company confirmed that chief financial officer Colette Kress would assume the role of interim chief executive while the board searches for a permanent replacement. Both internal and external candidates are being considered.
Scandal Puts Nvidia Under Intense Scrutiny
Huang’s resignation comes after reports emerged about his alleged relationships with two women, including a Chinese businesswoman identified as Alice Huang.
US authorities reportedly suspect Alice Huang of having connections to Chinese intelligence, although Beijing has denied allegations that she was acting as a spy.
The controversy has attracted considerable attention because of Alice Huang’s reported association with Megaspeed, a Singapore-based company that was described as an official Nvidia cloud partner with priority access to its advanced chips.
Washington has also reportedly been investigating whether Megaspeed was involved in helping China obtain restricted artificial intelligence chips in breach of US export controls.
Separately, The New York Times reported that Huang had also been involved in an extramarital relationship with Kimberly Powell, an Nvidia vice-president overseeing its healthcare business who reportedly reported directly to him.
Nvidia had previously launched an internal investigation, led by independent directors and supported by external legal advisers, into whether Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.
Singapore Connection Adds Another Dimension
The controversy has also drawn attention to Singapore because of the investigations surrounding Megaspeed and Alice Huang.
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs previously confirmed that local police were investigating Super Micro as part of a wider probe involving Megaspeed and Alice Huang.
Authorities had also contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice for assistance. However, the ministry said Singapore had received limited information and assistance from the American agencies.
In a separate development, Singapore authorities said Alice Huang had been barred from re-entering the country, citing insufficient evidence that she had committed offences in connection with the Megaspeed investigation.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg News reported that the US Department of Justice was investigating Alice Huang over whether entities linked to her were involved in attempts to smuggle Super Micro Computer products into China.
The investigation is particularly significant given Washington’s restrictions on exporting advanced semiconductor technology to China, an increasingly sensitive issue amid the ongoing competition between the two countries over artificial intelligence.
Nvidia Faces Uncertainty Over Its Next Leader
Huang’s departure raises questions about the future direction of Nvidia, which has become a central player in the global AI industry.
Under his leadership, the company’s graphics processing units (GPUs) evolved from products primarily associated with gaming into essential hardware for training and operating advanced AI systems.
The company’s growing influence helped push its market valuation to almost US$6 trillion at one point, making it the world’s most valuable publicly listed company.
Huang also developed a reputation as one of the technology industry’s most recognisable executives, frequently appearing at major technology conferences in his trademark leather jacket.
With Kress now serving as interim CEO, attention is turning towards potential successors.
Longtime Nvidia engineer Ian Buck has also emerged as a possible candidate. Buck played an important role in developing CUDA, Nvidia’s software platform that has become a major competitive advantage in the AI computing market.
Analysts believe the company’s biggest immediate challenge may not be its technology roadmap, but maintaining the coordination and execution that Huang had overseen for decades.
US Political Fallout Could Follow
The controversy could extend beyond Nvidia and potentially affect US technology export policy.
Huang had previously advocated maintaining access to the Chinese market, arguing for a less restrictive approach towards selling certain Nvidia products to Chinese customers.
His position reportedly aligned with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who has also faced questions over the administration’s handling of semiconductor exports to China.
Reuters reported that senior White House officials were discussing whether Lutnick should be removed from his position amid the growing controversy.
US President Donald Trump had previously praised Huang’s contributions to the country, saying that the Nvidia chief had told him he was unaware of Alice Huang’s alleged intelligence connections.
Trump also reportedly suggested former Apple chief executive Tim Cook as a possible replacement for Huang.
Nvidia shares fell approximately 4.8 per cent following news of the resignation, although rival chipmakers AMD and Broadcom recorded gains of around 6 per cent each.
For Nvidia, the immediate priority will be ensuring a smooth leadership transition while protecting its position in an increasingly competitive global AI market.
The departure of its co-founder leaves the company facing one of the most consequential leadership changes in its history, with potential implications extending from Silicon Valley to Singapore and the wider US-China technology rivalry.