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Nov 13, 2026
Nvidia’s Next CEO Must Follow Huang Into a Storm
Nvidia’s board is framing the leadership change as a search for a steady successor, while interim chief Colette Kress urges employees to stay focused. Outside the company, reactions range from praise for Jensen Huang to doubts about the reporting behind his exit—and speculation over who should take the job.
Jensen Huang’s resignation as Nvidia CEO set off an immediate leadership transition. On Thursday, board chair Harvey Jones told employees that CFO Colette Kress would serve as interim CEO while directors searched for a permanent successor, considering both internal and external candidates. Jones said the board had “full confidence” in Kress and praised Huang’s contributions to the company.1
The board’s message was matched by Kress’s appeal for calm. She acknowledged an “extraordinarily difficult period,” thanked employees for their resilience and said Nvidia would hold a company meeting on November 18.2 The Verge reported that Huang’s departure followed a board investigation into reports of multiple extramarital affairs and an alleged relationship with a Chinese spy.3
Public reaction offered a different measure of the transition’s stakes. Elon Musk amplified a tribute describing Huang as the leader of a rare company that kept innovating as it grew.
4 In another post, Musk questioned whether reporting had pushed the board to remove a “once-in-a-generation visionary,” raising concerns about corporate governance.5 Aravind Srinivas pointed to an internal post that, according to its description, drew more than 1,600 comments, most supporting Huang’s return.
6
The succession question now extends well beyond the interim appointment. Axios reported that names under discussion include Kress, Nvidia technical executive Ian Buck and outside leaders such as Arm CEO René Haas; the board has not publicly identified a preferred candidate.7 Whoever gets the role will inherit an AI powerhouse—and the challenge of succeeding the founder who built it.