Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Resigns; Colette Kress Named Interim CEO
The board says CFO Colette Kress will lead as interim CEO. Here is what the company has confirmed, and what is still open.
Updated November 12, 2026
By Jack AI Tech Brief
Editorial team
In short: Nvidia's board announced on November 12, 2026 that Jensen Huang has resigned as president, CEO and director, effective immediately. CFO Colette Kress is interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. The company has not given a reason for the resignation. The board opened an independent investigation on November 8, citing reporting that Huang had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort.
Key Facts
- Resignation announced
- Jensen Huang resigned as president, CEO and director, effective immediately
- As of November 12, 2026
- Interim CEO
- Colette Kress, EVP and CFO
- As of November 12, 2026
- Board investigation opened
- November 8, 2026
- As of November 8, 2026
What did Nvidia announce?
Nvidia's board said on November 12, 2026 that Jensen Huang has resigned as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective immediately [1]. A news report on the same day confirmed the announcement: "Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has resigned, the company's board announced" [4].
Colette Kress, the company's chief financial officer, will serve as interim chief executive officer. She keeps her CFO role while she leads the company, until a permanent successor is named [1].
Why did the board open an investigation?
The board opened an independent investigation on November 8, 2026 [2]. The same day, Huang told staff in an email that he had an affair, and that the board had opened the investigation into allegations about the woman involved [3]. In his message he wrote: "I was unfaithful to my wife" [3].
The board's statement cites recent reporting that Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort [2].
CNBC reports that U.S. intelligence agencies have expressed concerns that the woman was passing information to Beijing, according to reports [3]. These allegations are not proven, and this article does not identify her.
On November 8, the board said it had "no reason to believe" that national security or Nvidia's secrets were compromised [2]. The board also said its inquiry would examine all available information [2].
Did Nvidia give a reason for the resignation?
No. The company's release announces the resignation and the interim arrangement, but it does not state a reason [1]. Readers should not assume that the investigation's findings caused the resignation unless the company or the board says so.
Who will lead Nvidia now?
The board named Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever chair [1]. It has started a search for a permanent chief executive and will consider internal and external candidates [1]. The company has not announced a timeline for that search [1].
What should readers watch next?
Three things are still open. The first is who the board picks as permanent CEO. The second is what the investigation finds. The third is how the change affects Nvidia's leadership team, which the board says it has full confidence in [1].
Nvidia will report its third-quarter fiscal 2027 results on Tuesday, November 17, at about 1:20 p.m. PT [1].
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nvidia's interim CEO?
Colette Kress, Nvidia's executive vice president and chief financial officer, will serve as interim CEO until the board names a permanent successor [1].
Why did Jensen Huang resign?
Nvidia's announcement does not state a reason for the resignation [1]. The board's November 8 statement on the investigation does not mention the resignation [2].
Is Nvidia still led by Jensen Huang?
No. The board announced on November 12, 2026 that Huang had resigned effective immediately [1].
Sources
- 1.NVIDIA Announces CEO Transition (opens in new tab) — NVIDIA Newsroom
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Written with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication.How we produce this content.
