CEO Jensen Huang's job is suddenly on the line at Nvidia
Quick Look
- Nvidia's board is set to hold urgent talks about Jensen Huang's future after revelations he had an affair with executive Kimberly Powell, following earlier reports of a relationship with Alice Huang, whom US intelligence believes was recruited by China's Ministry of State Security.
- Trump said the FBI is investigating, and Nvidia shares dropped more than 8 percent in after-hours trading.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Nvidia is a $4.2 trillion chipmaker whose CEO Jensen Huang has become an influential voice in President Trump's circle on US AI policy and export controls. The board has launched an investigation and hired a former federal prosecutor to lead the probe, while previously backing Huang to remain as chief executive on Sunday.
Nvidia’s board is set to hold urgent talks about the future of its founder Jensen Huang after revelations that he had an affair with a top executive at the company, according to people familiar with the matter.
The meeting on Wednesday comes amid a deepening scandal at the $4.2 trillion group, after Donald Trump said the FBI was investigating allegations that Huang was romantically involved with an alleged Chinese spy.
The Nvidia chief executive had a romantic relationship with Kimberly Powell, the chipmaker’s vice-president of healthcare, according to two people familiar with the matter. Powell, a more than 18-year veteran at Nvidia, is among the company’s more prominent public figures.
Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Powell could not be reached for comment.
The company’s shares dropped more than 8 percent in after-hours trading after The New York Times reported the relationship with Powell and The Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia’s board could oust Huang.
The news of the second relationship will pile pressure on Huang after he on Sunday admitted to having an affair, two days after the FT reported he was romantically involved with Alice Huang, an executive at an Nvidia customer.
US intelligence believes Alice Huang had also been recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security spy agency.
Nvidia’s board has launched an investigation into the matter and on Tuesday said it had hired a former federal prosecutor to lead the probe. But the board on Sunday backed Huang to remain as chief executive.
Trump on Monday said the FBI was looking into the situation. Senior Republicans and Democrats have called for congressional investigations into the Nvidia boss, who has become an influential voice in the president’s circle on US AI policy and export controls.
This is a developing story.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Nvidia's board will reach a decision on Jensen Huang's future as CEO following Wednesday's urgent talks
Very likely · Within days
The FBI investigation into allegations involving Jensen Huang and Alice Huang will continue and may produce findings
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific findings will the board investigation uncover?
- Will the board vote to oust Jensen Huang as CEO?
- What is the status and scope of the FBI investigation?
- What evidence supports US intelligence's belief that Alice Huang was recruited by China's Ministry of State Security?
