Nvidia Corp. has removed Jensen Huang from his role as CEO following revelations of three affairs, including one involving a woman allegedly linked to Chinese espionage. The board, which previously lacked a chair, appointed director Harvey Jones, 73, to the position. Jones formerly led Synopsys Inc., a company in which Nvidia acquired a $2 billion stake last year.
Longtime Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress will step in as interim CEO, according to a statement released on Thursday. Huang will have no further ties with the chipmaker, marking the end of his tenure at the helm of one of the most prominent companies in the AI infrastructure boom.
The news comes as a shock to many, given Huang's central role in Nvidia's rise as a leader in AI and graphics processing technology. The board's decision underscores the severity of the allegations, which have raised concerns about corporate governance and security risks.