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Nvidia Board Moves to Oust CEO Jensen Huang Amid Spy and Workplace Affair Allegations
Nvidia's board is reportedly preparing to remove CEO Jensen Huang after revelations that he had an affair with a woman identified by U.S. intelligence as a Chinese spy and with a subordinate executive, Kimberly Powell. The decision could come as soon as Wednesday night.
Nvidia's board of directors is preparing to oust CEO Jensen Huang, according to reports Wednesday, following disclosures that he engaged in an affair with a woman U.S. intelligence officials have determined is a Chinese spy and a separate relationship with a company executive who reports to him.
The move could be finalized as soon as Wednesday night, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal. The New York Times also reported that Huang was involved with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia's vice president of health care, who has worked at the company since 2008.
Powell's LinkedIn profile shows she joined Nvidia in 2008 in a role focused on worldwide evangelism and go-to-market strategy for the company's visual computing platforms in higher education and health care. She was promoted to senior director of artificial intelligence business development in 2016 and became vice president of health care in 2017.
The Times reported that Powell and Huang were seen being affectionate in a video taken at a San Jose hotel during an Nvidia conference in March. When Times reporters reached Huang by phone Wednesday and asked about his relationship with Powell, he said, "I don't think you should be talking to me directly," and hung up.
The allegations mark a sharp reversal for Huang, who until this week had enjoyed broad support from Silicon Valley leaders. Many had publicly called him "irreplaceable" and closed ranks around him. As recently as 1:42 p.m. Wednesday, minutes before the Times published its story, venture capitalist Ron Conway called for patience while investigations concluded.
The reported board action raises urgent questions for the region's economy and workforce. Nvidia is one of the most valuable companies in the world and a central pillar of the Bay Area's artificial intelligence industry. A leadership shakeup at the top of the chipmaker could ripple through supply chains, investor confidence, and the broader tech ecosystem that has come to depend on Nvidia's hardware for AI development.
The involvement of a woman identified by U.S. intelligence as a Chinese spy also raises national security concerns, given Nvidia's role in advanced computing and its sensitive technology. It was not immediately clear what information, if any, may have been compromised.
Nvidia has not publicly commented on the reports. The company's board has not confirmed the timing of any decision. Community leaders and workers across the region will be watching closely as one of the tech industry's most powerful figures faces an unprecedented reckoning.