Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns after tech giant rocked by second affair allegation

Jensen Huang has resigned as chief executive of Nvidia, the artificial intelligence chipmaker he co-founded, following reports of two extramarital relationships, including one involving a woman suspected by US intelligence officials of having links to Chinese intelligence. Nvidia’s board of directors announced on Thursday, November 12, that Huang’s departure as CEO and board member would take immediate effect.

His resignation follows an investigation launched by the company after reports that he had an intimate relationship with a woman identified in media reports as Alice Huang, a former executive of Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed International. US intelligence officials reportedly suspected Alice Huang of working for Chinese intelligence, raising concerns about whether the relationship could have exposed sensitive company or national security information.

Nvidia’s board had earlier said it had no reason to believe that national security or company secrets had been compromised. The development follows a report by The New York Times on Wednesday that Huang had also been involved in an intimate relationship with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice-president of healthcare. The newspaper cited five people who had worked at the company.

Huang had admitted to being unfaithful to his wife in a message to Nvidia employees, apologising to his family and colleagues. “I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry,” he said. National security concerns The allegations had drawn attention from US lawmakers, with Democrats preparing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Huang’s relationship with the woman suspected of espionage and the extent of President Donald Trump’s knowledge of the alleged Chinese intelligence operation.

The controversy has also renewed scrutiny of Nvidia’s business dealings with China, particularly the sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips amid US efforts to restrict Beijing’s access to sensitive technology. Nvidia’s board had said its investigation would examine the available information, while maintaining that it had no reason to believe that company secrets or national security had been compromised.

Nvidia faces leadership transition Huang founded Nvidia in 1993 and led its transformation into one of the world’s most influential technology companies, supplying chips