Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Resigns Amid Alleged Espionage-Related Affair
Jensen Huang stepped down as chief executive of Nvidia after a board meeting, following reports of an affair with a woman identified by U.S. intelligence as a Chinese intelligence asset.
Nvidia announced on November 12 that founder Jensen Huang, 63, has resigned as chief executive after a lengthy board meeting. The company said his contributions were "immeasurable" and thanked him for his role in building Nvidia into a leading maker of artificial-intelligence chips.
The resignation follows a series of New York Times reports that Huang had an extramarital relationship with a Chinese businesswoman, identified by U.S. intelligence as a spy, who was a top executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed. U.S. officials have also linked Megaspeed to the possible smuggling of restricted Nvidia chips into China, a claim the Chinese government has denied.
Shares of Nvidia fell sharply at the start of trading after the announcement, adding pressure to a market already sensitive to the company's role in the AI sector.
"He is an honorable man," President Donald J. Trump said of Huang, adding that he believed Huang was unaware of the woman's intelligence ties. The president, who is scheduled to travel to China, said he does not plan to raise the Nvidia matter in talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Nvidia's board did not address Huang's conduct in its statement, noting only his "profound" contributions. The company’s chief financial officer, Colette Kress, will remain in her role while serving as interim chief executive.
Industry analysts note that Huang’s departure could have broader economic implications because Nvidia’s AI chips are a key component of U.S. technology growth and are central to ongoing U.S.–China competition in the sector.