Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang resigned as president, CEO, and board director on Thursday ending a 33-year run at the chipmaking giant.
Kress Serves as Interim CEO During Leadership Search
Kress joined Nvidia in September 2013 and previously held senior finance positions at Microsoft and Cisco. She will maintain her current financial duties while serving as interim CEO until the board appoints a long-term successor. Before joining Nvidia, Kress spent nearly 25 years in finance positions.
I'd bet you 20 Rubin GPUs and 20 fully-loaded Mac Studios that Tim Cook is NOT going to be the next CEO of Nvidia.
The board is currently weighing both internal and external candidates for the role, which represents one of the most consequential leadership positions in the technology sector.
Some observers suggest the company may be moving toward a leadership structure that does not require a single individual to replicate Huang’s entire role. As one analyst noted, the priority is demonstrating to the market that Nvidia functions as a business rather than being defined by one person.
Intelligence Scrutiny and Jensen Huang Admits Infidelity
These reports raised questions regarding potential national security concerns, as activities of businesswoman Alice Huang reportedly drew scrutiny from U.S. intelligence officials over possible links to Chinese chip shipments. On November 8, Jensen Huang issued a message to employees admitting to being unfaithful to his wife, stating, “I owe my family and all of you an apology.”
While Huang is no longer CEO, president, or a board director, he remains a major shareholder in the company he helped build. Nvidia has not announced any new advisory or executive position for him. The company is currently dealing with the aftermath of these events, including federal scrutiny and a class-action lawsuit filed against the firm.
Nvidia Searches for Successor Among Internal and External Candidates
Nvidia has hired an outside firm to assist in the search for a permanent successor. Among internal candidates, senior executive Ian Buck has emerged as a prominent name. Other internal names discussed include former executive Jay Puri, who spent 21 years leading worldwide field operations before retiring in August 2026 and moving into an advisory role.
External candidates under consideration include Arm CEO Rene Haas. The list of potential outside leaders also includes AMD CEO Lisa Su, who has led her company since 2014.
Market analysts have pointed to Apple’s chief hardware officer Johny Srouji as a potential candidate; Srouji attained his current position recently, following John Ternus’s move to the role of CEO of Apple. Other figures mentioned in industry commentary include Nikesh Arora, who previously held senior roles at Google, T-Mobile, and SoftBank.
Tech analyst Dan Ives suggested that finding a replacement will be difficult for the board. “There is no succession plan and it would be a stretch to find a candidate internally to replace Jensen,” Dan Ives, partner and senior managing director and analyst at Yorkville Ives & Co., told Newsweek.
Trump Suggests Tim Cook While Shares Fall 10 Percent
The search has garnered high-level political attention. Following the resignation, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, writing: “NOW THAT Nvidia CEO JENSEN HUANG, who has done a fantastic job, has resigned, there is only one man to take his place —TIM COOK of Apple. A Legend replaces a Legend!”
Despite the high-profile suggestion, industry experts have expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of such a move. Meanwhile, the market has reacted to the transition with volatility. Nvidia shares fell more than 10 percent on the news of the resignation.
Earlier coverage: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Resigns, Market Value Drops $1.6 Trillion