Nvidia’s board is reportedly preparing to consider the future of chief executive and co-founder Jensen Huang following revelations of two alleged extramarital affairs, one involving an executive suspected by US intelligence officials of having links to Chinese intelligence.
People familiar with the matter told The New York Times that the board could meet as early as today to discuss Huang’s position.
A potential departure would mark the end of an era for the technology giant, with Huang having played a central role in driving the global artificial intelligence boom and establishing Nvidia as one of the world’s most valuable companies.
Huang, widely regarded as the public face of the AI industry, built his reputation through his high-profile appearances at international technology conferences and meetings with senior US and Chinese officials.
Nvidia’s powerful graphics processing units (GPUs), which contain billions of transistors, have become essential components in the development and operation of artificial intelligence systems.
The company’s growing influence has also turned Huang into an international celebrity, particularly in Taiwan, where he was born and where much of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing takes place.
However, his leadership has come under scrutiny following revelations about his personal relationships.
In a letter to employees on Sunday, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and apologised for breaching the trust of his family and colleagues.
One of the relationships reportedly involved Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based data company Megaspeed, a significant Nvidia customer. US intelligence officials reportedly suspect she is working with Chinese intelligence services, although the allegations have not been independently established.
Huang is also alleged to have had a relationship with a Nvidia employee, according to a person familiar with the matter. The New York Times previously reported the second alleged affair.
Nvidia shares fall amid leadership uncertainty
Nvidia shares fell approximately 8 per cent in after-hours trading, extending recent losses following reports that the company’s board was examining Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang.
Jensen Huang remains Nvidia’s largest individual shareholder, with an estimated 3.6 per cent stake in the company.
The company’s latest proxy statement highlights its reliance on its longstanding executive leadership team, warning that inadequate succession planning could affect strategic decision-making, business execution and long-term performance.
Despite those concerns, Huang has previously expressed little interest in formal succession planning.
With approximately 60 direct reports, he has argued that leadership knowledge should be shared continuously rather than relying on a traditional succession strategy.
It remains unclear who could take over if Huang were to leave the company, with no immediate successor identified.
