Nvidia’s board of directors is preparing to remove Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang following reports of two extramarital affairs, including one involving a woman US intelligence officials suspect of working as a Chinese spy.
The proposed move, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, could bring an end to Huang’s 33-year leadership of the technology giant and raise fresh questions about its future direction in the global artificial intelligence industry.
The Journal reported that Nvidia’s board could meet as soon as Wednesday to determine Huang’s future at the company.
The development follows a report by The New York Times that Huang, 63, had also been involved in an extramarital relationship with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare.
Powell, who has worked at the company for nearly two decades, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Nvidia shares fell more than seven per cent in after-hours trading following the reports, reflecting investor concerns over the potential leadership change.
Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has played a central role in its transformation into one of the world’s most influential technology companies, particularly through its dominance in artificial intelligence chips.
On Sunday, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife, prompting the company to announce an investigation into reports that he had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.
At the time, Nvidia’s board said it had “no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised”, but added that its inquiry would examine “all available information.”
The company has recorded significant growth under Huang’s leadership, with revenue reaching 96 billion dollars in the first half of its 2027 financial year, an 85 per cent increase year-on-year.
Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress also said Nvidia expected revenue growth of 70 per cent in the 2028 financial year.
However, Huang’s potential departure presents a significant succession challenge for the company, which operates without a clear succession plan or a chief operating officer.
He has maintained a highly centralised leadership structure, with approximately 60 direct reports, while remaining closely involved in major corporate decisions and customer relationships.
Analysts say the challenge for Nvidia would extend beyond maintaining its chip production, as the company would need to find a successor capable of sustaining Huang’s influence across the technology industry.
Gil Luria, an analyst with D.A. Davidson & Co., told Fortune that the circumstances surrounding Huang’s possible departure “hasten a transition the company is not prepared for”.
Jay Goldberg of Seaport Research Partners also told Fortune that internal policy violations could make Huang’s continued leadership untenable.
“There are rules about that; there are laws about that,” Goldberg said.
He added: Nvidia won’t “go away. They’re sold out. It’s all contracted into next year, but it loses a lot of its luster. The chances of making a misstep are higher.”
If Huang is removed, Nvidia will face questions over who will succeed him and how the company intends to fill the leadership vacuum left by its long-serving chief executive.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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