Nvidia board prepares to oust CEO Jensen Huang over affair allegations
The chipmaker's board is reportedly meeting to decide the future of its co-founder following reports of two extramarital affairs.
The board of Nvidia is preparing to remove co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang from his position, according to reports from The Economic Times and Mint. The move follows allegations of infidelity involving a subordinate and a relationship with a woman suspected of being a Chinese intelligence asset.
The New York Times reported that Huang, 63, was involved in an affair with Nvidia vice president of health care Kimberly Powell. Bystanders at a conference in San Jose, California, reportedly saw the two being affectionate at a hotel, and video of the encounter exists, the Times stated.
This follows Huang's admission of a relationship with Alice Huang, a senior executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed. US intelligence reportedly alleged that Alice Huang was an asset for China's Ministry of State Security, according to The Economic Times.
In a note to employees on Sunday, Huang admitted he was unfaithful to his wife. He stated he would cooperate with an independent investigation launched by the Nvidia board into whether he was the target of a foreign intelligence effort.
Nvidia shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit against Huang and the company for failing to disclose the relationship to investors. Additionally, US Republican House committee chairs have requested a closed-door briefing from Huang regarding his interactions with Alice Huang.
The board is reportedly working with an outside firm to identify potential successors and may appoint a temporary chief. Nvidia shares have declined in recent days following the admissions.