On November 12, 2026, Nvidia’s board announced that Jensen Huang had resigned as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective immediately. Colette Kress, executive vice president and chief financial officer, was appointed interim CEO while continuing as CFO. The board also named Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever chair and initiated a search for a permanent CEO, open to internal and external candidates. The transition follows reporting about personal relationships that raised questions for the board. Corporate governance, board, and technology procurement teams that depend on Nvidia should monitor the leadership search, earnings commentary and any policy implications for chip supply and export controls.
Nvidia announced on November 12, 2026, that founder and CEO Jensen Huang had resigned, effective immediately, and that CFO Colette Kress would serve as interim chief executive while the board searches for a permanent successor. Boards, general counsel, corporate secretaries and any organization whose technology or supply-chain plans depend on Nvidia’s leadership continuity should treat the announcement as a material governance and operational event.
This is not legal advice. Consult counsel on specific governance or disclosure obligations.
- What changed? Jensen Huang resigned as president, CEO and director, effective immediately. Colette Kress (EVP and CFO) was named interim CEO and will continue as CFO. Harvey C. Jones was appointed the first chair of the board. A search for a permanent CEO is underway.
- When? Announced November 12, 2026. The board accepted the resignation. Nvidia has said it will report earnings as previously scheduled.
- Who is affected? Nvidia shareholders, board and senior leadership; customers and partners that rely on Nvidia GPUs and software for AI infrastructure; governance professionals tracking succession and board structure at major technology companies.
- What to do this week? Review any internal briefings or risk registers that assumed Huang’s continued leadership. Note the appointment of an independent chair. Monitor official Nvidia communications and the upcoming earnings call for commentary on strategy continuity and the CEO search.
What did Nvidia announce on November 12?
Nvidia’s board of directors announced that Jensen Huang had resigned as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective immediately. Colette Kress, who has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer, agreed to serve as interim chief executive. She will continue in her CFO role while serving as interim CEO until a permanent successor is named. The board stated that it is initiating a search for a permanent chief executive officer and will consider both internal and external candidates.
The board also appointed Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever chair of the board. Jones has been a director since the company’s early years and previously served as chief executive and executive chairman of Synopsys. In the official announcement, Kress said the company would continue advancing the work that has made Nvidia a leader in accelerated computing and AI and that the focus remains on serving customers, partners, developers and shareholders.
What is the background to the leadership change?
The resignation followed days of reporting about Huang’s personal relationships, including one that U.S. authorities reportedly viewed as raising national-security questions and another involving an employee. Nvidia’s board had previously indicated it was investigating related reporting. The company announced the resignation before the market open on November 12. Shares declined on the news. Huang co-founded Nvidia and had led the company for more than three decades.
The board’s decision to name a permanent chair for the first time and to separate the roles of chair and CEO (at least during the interim period) is a structural governance change that many public-company observers will note.
How does the interim structure work?
Colette Kress holds both the interim CEO and CFO titles until a permanent CEO is appointed. She has been Nvidia’s CFO since 2013 and previously held finance roles at technology companies including Cisco and Microsoft. The dual role is temporary; the board is conducting a formal search. Harvey Jones, as chair, is expected to play a central role in that search and in board oversight during the transition.
Nvidia has indicated that its scheduled earnings report will proceed. Investors and customers will look to that report and the accompanying commentary for any signals about strategy, capital allocation, product roadmaps or customer relationships under the interim leadership.
What should corporate governance and operator teams watch?
Governance professionals should note the speed of the transition, the appointment of an independent chair, and the dual-hatted interim CEO/CFO arrangement. Organizations that have significant exposure to Nvidia—through GPU purchases, software commitments, joint ventures or equity holdings—should ensure that their risk and procurement teams are tracking official updates rather than secondary commentary alone.
Broader policy questions, including U.S. export controls on advanced chips and any changes in how Nvidia engages with regulators or Congress, may also surface in the coming weeks. Boards of other technology companies may use the episode as a prompt to review succession planning, conflict-of-interest policies and crisis-response protocols for founder-led firms.
What to watch next?
The permanent CEO search process, any further board or regulatory developments, and Nvidia’s next earnings report and guidance. Technology buyers and procurement teams should watch for any commentary on supply continuity, product roadmaps and customer support under the interim leadership. Governance teams should also monitor whether the company publishes additional details on the CEO search criteria or timeline.
FAQ
Who is Nvidia’s interim CEO?
Colette Kress, previously executive vice president and chief financial officer. She continues as CFO while serving as interim CEO until a permanent successor is named.
Did Jensen Huang remain on the board?
No. The announcement stated that he resigned as president, CEO and a member of the board, effective immediately.
Who is the new board chair?
Harvey C. Jones, a long-serving director and former chief executive and executive chairman of Synopsys. He is Nvidia’s first-ever chair of the board.
Will Nvidia’s earnings report still take place?
Yes. The company has said it will report results as previously scheduled.
Is the CEO search limited to internal candidates?
No. The board stated that it will consider both internal and external candidates.
Last Updated: November 14, 2026.
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