Jensen Huang has been associated with Nvidia for over 33 years, ever since he first co-founded the company in 1993. His leadership was a massive contributor to Nvidia going from a graphics chip manufacturer to becoming a major player in the AI industry. Nvidia’s valuation reportedly crossed $5 trillion as of October 2026, but Huang has been involved in multiple controversies. Jensen Huang’s resignation comes when Nvidia’s board was reportedly considering removing him.
What Controversies Led to Jensen Huang’s Resignation?
This isn’t such a simple answer, as Jensen Huang’s resignation is filled with scandal. The former Nvidia CEO was involved in an extramarital affair with Alice Huang, a Chinese national whom US intelligence reportedly suspected of working with Chinese intelligence. Concerns arose that Alice may have used her relationship with Huang to leak sensitive Nvidia secrets, and the board commissioned an independent investigation into whether foreign intelligence was targeting Huang. The board stated that it had no reason to believe company secrets had been compromised. However, Jensen Huang resigned following another scandal.
It was reported on November 11 that Jensen Huang was also involved with Kimberly Powell, who is Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare. Powell also reportedly reported directly to Huang, which makes the relationship even more sensitive. This alleged relationship hasn’t been confirmed by Huang or Powell, but reports suggest the couple was seen behaving affectionately during a Nvidia conference in 2026. This goes against Nvidia’s code of conduct, as the company discourages workplace relationships, especially with a subordinate, to avoid conflicts of interest.
On November 11, it was also reported that Nvidia was planning to remove Huang from his position as CEO. The board was reportedly set to meet, and the board’s bylaws allow it to remove the CEO with or without cause. However, on November 12, the board announced that Huang had resigned as CEO, president, and board member effective immediately. CFO Colette Kress became interim CEO while Harvey C. Jones filled the position of board chairman. The company has stated it is considering candidates for permanent replacement for the position of CEO.
Jensen Huang still holds a substantial stake in Nvidia, and he is also a co-founder of the company. His resignation has effectively removed him from the board, and while his stake means he has a financial interest in the company, they don’t give Huang a controlling interest.
