Colette Kress named interim chief of NVIDIA, as executive succession chatter swirls around Jensen Huang

NVIDIA has named Colette Kress as interim chief executive officer, according to a market report published on Nov. 12, 2026. The appointment positions the company’s longtime chief financial officer, who has been closely associated with NVIDIA’s financial reporting and capital plans, as the face of leadership during the transition period.

The report frames Kress as the “logical pick” for the interim role, pointing to her background inside NVIDIA. It also suggests that the decision does not end the conversation about who could ultimately take over permanently, noting that other executives, both inside and outside the company, are being discussed as potential successors.

NVIDIA’s leadership transition comes at a sensitive time for the company, which remains heavily tied to demand for AI-focused data center hardware and the broader pace of semiconductor and infrastructure investment. In that setting, interim appointments often matter less for day-to-day strategy and more for continuity in investor communications, operational execution, and capital allocation through a critical cycle.

Kress’s interim role is also likely to carry symbolic weight because financial leadership at NVIDIA has historically been closely watched by markets during periods of rapid growth and shifting customer demand. The report’s emphasis on her CFO tenure underlines that investors typically look for a steady hand to manage expectations while the company navigates product ramps and supply dynamics.