The board of Nvidia is preparing to remove founder and CEO Jensen Huang, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The report described preparations for a leadership decision rather than an already completed dismissal.
Directors could meet as soon as November 11 to determine Huang’s future, the Journal reported, amid reports involving two extramarital relationships, including one with a suspected Chinese spy. That meeting timetable was a possibility, not confirmation that a vote had occurred or a successor had been appointed.
The reported move follows an independent investigation announced on November 8. In a November 10 update, independent directors said they had retained former acting US Attorney Joon H. Kim and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct the inquiry. The update did not announce investigative findings.
In its original statement, the board expressed confidence in Huang and his leadership team and said it had no reason to believe national security or Nvidia secrets had been compromised. Huang separately acknowledged infidelity in a staff letter and pledged cooperation; his admission does not establish that espionage occurred.
The leadership uncertainty comes before Nvidia’s November 17 earnings release and analyst call. As our earlier coverage explained, House committee chairs have also sought a closed-door briefing. Investors now await a company announcement clarifying any leadership decision and its timing.
