Jensen Huang resigns as Nvidia CEO; Colette Kress takes over on interim basis
Nvidia's chief executive stepped down on Thursday after reports of extramarital affairs, one involving a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy. Colette Kress is now interim CEO while the board considers a permanent successor.
Key takeaways
- Jensen Huang resigned as Nvidia CEO on Thursday after reports of extramarital affairs.
- One reported affair involved a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy.
- Colette Kress is serving as interim CEO after a long, low-profile career at Microsoft.
- Possible permanent successors discussed by GeekWire include executives from Microsoft, Amazon and the chip industry.
In this article
A sudden exit at the top
Jensen Huang resigned as chief executive of Nvidia on Thursday, according to GeekWire.
GeekWire discussed the news on its podcast on 14 November 2026, describing the departure as a sudden downfall for the leader of the world's most valuable chipmaker. The publication also raised questions about governance gaps at the company following the exit.
Who is running Nvidia now
Colette Kress has taken over as interim CEO. Before joining Nvidia, Kress spent a long period at Microsoft in a low-profile role behind the scenes, according to GeekWire's reporting and podcast discussion.
GeekWire's trivia segment this week examines what other former Microsoft finance executives have done after leaving the company, a theme inspired by Kress's move to the top job at Nvidia.
The search for a permanent successor
GeekWire reports that several executives could take over from Kress on a permanent basis. The candidates discussed include figures from Microsoft, Amazon and the wider chip industry.
No permanent appointment has been confirmed in the material available, and the list of possible successors remains speculative. Readers should treat candidate names as discussion points rather than confirmed shortlists until Nvidia makes an announcement.
What this means for the chip industry
Nvidia is described by GeekWire as the world's most valuable chipmaker, which makes the abrupt leadership change significant well beyond the company itself.
The story also highlights broader questions about board oversight and governance at large technology firms, a theme GeekWire explored alongside the resignation. The reported circumstances of the departure, involving alleged links to a suspected Chinese spy, add a national security dimension that companies and regulators may examine further.
Sources
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