Jensen Huang steps down as Nvidia CEO; company has not disclosed the reason for his departure

Jensen Huang has stepped down as Nvidia's chairman and chief executive officer, with his departure taking effect immediately. The company confirmed the decision in an official announcement on November 12. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has been appointed interim CEO, while the board searches for a permanent successor from both internal and external candidates.

It is important to distinguish confirmed decisions from the allegations that preceded this development. On November 8, Nvidia announced an independent investigation following media reports about possible involvement by a foreign intelligence service. At the time, the board explicitly stated that it had no reason to believe national security or the company's trade secrets had been compromised. Two days later, the company announced that independent lawyer Joon H. Kim and the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz would lead the investigation.

In a separate message to employees, Huang acknowledged on November 8 that he had been unfaithful to his wife and took responsibility for his actions. However, Nvidia's announcement about his departure did not state that he was stepping down because of the investigation, nor did it publish the investigation's findings.

Singapore's official response is also important. On October 30, the Singapore Police Force rejected claims that local authorities had investigated the businesswoman connected to the case or officially expressed suspicions about her alleged links to Chinese intelligence. Police confirmed that an investigation into Megaspeed's business activities was ongoing but did not provide further details.

The departure of a long-serving leader from one of the world's most important technology companies is undoubtedly a major business development. Nevertheless, no officially published findings currently confirm that Nvidia's trade secrets reached a foreign government. The company has also not officially explained the reason for Huang's departure.