NVIDIA Names Interim CEO as Jensen Huang Steps Down, Appoints New Board Chair

NVIDIA announced a leadership transition on Nov. 12, saying its co-founder and chief executive, Jensen Huang, has resigned from the role. The company named Colette Kress, its executive vice president and chief financial officer, as interim CEO while the company conducts a broader succession process. NVIDIA did not state in the announcement when Huang will fully leave the company or whether he will retain other responsibilities, according to the details provided in the public update.

Alongside the management change, NVIDIA said Harvey C. Jones has been appointed chair of the board. The company described the role as the first-ever chair position created at NVIDIA, indicating a governance shift that separates board leadership from executive management. NVIDIA did not provide in the posted update additional specifics about the chair’s duties or how the chair’s authority will differ from prior board structures.

Colette Kress, who will lead as interim chief executive, has served as NVIDIA’s CFO. The CFO role matters to investors and customers because it ties directly to forecasting, capital spending, and reporting on the company’s financial performance across its data center, gaming, and other business lines. By elevating Kress from finance to interim CEO, NVIDIA placed a senior executive already deeply involved in company-wide planning at the helm during the transition.

The update also positions Jensen Huang’s exit from the CEO title as more than a routine change. Huang has been central to NVIDIA’s executive identity since the company’s rise in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence hardware. NVIDIA’s announcement, however, did not provide a timetable for when a permanent CEO will be selected, nor did it describe the criteria the board will use to make that decision.

NVIDIA’s board governance and succession move arrives at a time when leadership stability is closely watched in the semiconductor sector, particularly for companies tied to fast-moving technology cycles. As AI chips and related software ecosystems have expanded, investors often focus not only on product execution, but also on whether management continuity holds for customer commitments, supply planning, and strategic partnerships.

In terms of what was not disclosed, the public announcement did not include details on the reasons for Huang’s resignation, the expected length of the interim period, or whether Kress will be considered for the permanent CEO role. It also did not outline any near-term operational changes that could be tied to the leadership shift. For now, the company’s messaging emphasized the appointment structure rather than a change in strategy.

For market watchers, the immediate questions are likely to center on continuity in investor communications and execution on priorities that depend on senior leadership, including enterprise customer engagements and ongoing product roadmaps. With a CFO stepping in as interim CEO, attention will likely turn to how NVIDIA frames financial guidance and capital allocation during the transition. Separately, the board’s introduction of a chair role suggests NVIDIA wants to formalize board oversight in a way that aligns with evolving governance expectations.