Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns after affairs linked to espionage

What happened

Jensen Huang resigned as CEO of Nvidia on November 12, 2026, after reports surfaced of multiple extramarital affairs, including one with a tech executive suspected of being a Chinese intelligence agent. Nvidia's board accepted his resignation and named CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO while they search for a permanent replacement. Harvey C. Jones was appointed as the company's first board chair. The leadership changes followed a sharp drop in Nvidia's stock price, which lost over $600 billion in market value.

Key details

• Jensen Huang admitted to infidelity in a public message to Nvidia employees.
• One affair was with Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive and suspected Chinese spy; another was with Nvidia vice president Kimberly Powell.
• Nvidia's board launched an independent investigation into potential security breaches related to the affairs.
• Harvey C. Jones, a long-time board member, was named the first chair of Nvidia's board.
• Nvidia's stock lost over $600 billion in value following the news of Huang's resignation.

Why it matters

Nvidia employees, shareholders, and partners now face a period of uncertainty as the company transitions to new leadership and investigates possible security issues. The sharp decline in Nvidia's stock value directly affects investors and the broader technology sector. U.S. regulators and lawmakers are also involved, raising the stakes for Nvidia's business operations and its role in the global AI chip market.