Key Notes
- Trump publicly endorsed Tim Cook as his preferred successor to Jensen Huang at Nvidia.
- Cook is Apple’s executive chairman after John Ternus took over as CEO in September.
- Colette Kress leads Nvidia temporarily while directors conduct an internal and external search.
President Donald Trump backed Tim Cook, Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL)’s executive chairman, to replace Jensen Huang as CEO of Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA). His endorsement came Thursday, after the chipmaker announced its founder’s resignation.
Trump praised Huang’s work before naming Cook as his preferred successor. “There is only one man to take his place – TIM COOK of Apple,” he wrote. “A Legend replaces a Legend!”
Nvidia has put Colette Kress in charge as interim CEO while its board searches for a permanent leader. Trump’s post endorses Cook; it does not announce an appointment or say that Cook has agreed to pursue the job.
Cook Has Already Handed Apple to Ternus
Cook moved from CEO to executive chairman on September 1, when John Ternus took over Apple’s day-to-day leadership. The leadership handover ended Cook’s roughly 15 years as chief executive, a period that included the expansion of Services and Apple’s move to its own Mac processors.
He joined Apple in 1998 and became CEO in 2011. His current chairmanship still includes engagement with policymakers around the world, a responsibility Apple outlined when it announced the transition in April.
Trump’s choice would therefore involve a veteran executive who has already handed over one of technology’s biggest operating jobs but remains closely involved with Apple.
Kress Leads Nvidia During the Search
Nvidia’s announced succession puts the decision with its board. Directors will consider internal and external candidates, with Harvey C. Jones serving as board chair.
Kress, Nvidia’s CFO since 2013, will retain that position while serving as interim CEO. The company has not named Cook as a candidate in its leadership announcement.
For shareholders, the next date on the calendar is November 17. Nvidia’s fiscal third-quarter 2027 earnings release and conference call remain scheduled for that day, giving Kress an early opportunity to address investors as the company’s interim leader.
