Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has resigned effective immediately, the company’s board of directors announced Thursday.
The decision came amid an investigation into Huang’s affair with a woman U.S. intelligence agencies suspect was spying for China.
Nvidia’s board had been preparing to oust Huang, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News Wednesday night, plans that were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The company’s interim CEO will be Colette Kress, who is currently Nvidia’s chief financial officer and will continue in that role.
“The Board has full confidence in Colette and the leadership team, and we expect the company’s operations, customer commitments and product roadmap to continue without interruption,” board chair Harvey Jones said in a statement.
The board said it will be conducting a search for a permanent CEO and will consider internal and external candidates.
Nvidia was co-founded by Huang in 1993. It became one of the most valuable companies in the world by designing the powerful semiconductors that fuel many of the world’s leading AI firms, making its technology highly sensitive and subject to export controls limiting sales to China.
Nvidia’s stock plunged as news emerged of the company’s turmoil, potentially erasing more than $700 billion in value.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
