Nvidia board prepares to oust CEO Jensen Huang — reports
DW with AP, Reuters, AFP
November 11, 2026
Nvidia's board is reportedly preparing to oust Jensen Huang amid reports of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy. The shake-up would leave the world's leading AI chip supplier without the co-founder who built it.
Huang's potential ouster would leave a leadership vacuum at the roughly $4 trillion chipmaker he cofounded
Image: Markus Schreiber/AP Photo/picture alliance
Nvidia's board was meeting Wednesday to decide whether to remove co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang, media outlets, led by The Wall Street Journal, reported.
Huang has led the company for more than three decades, turning it from a gaming chipmaker into the dominant supplier of chips for artificial intelligence.
Why is Nvidia's board considering replacing Huang?
The report comes as Nvidia investigates whether Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort after reports of an affair with a woman US intelligence reportedly identified as a Chinese intelligence asset. The New York Times reported Wednesday that Huang also had an affair with an Nvidia executive who reported to him.
News that Nvidia might part ways with Huang sent the company's shares down about 8% in after-hours trading.
A reporter for the financial news outlet Bloomberg said on X that Nvidia's board was working with an outside firm to identify potential successors and considering an interim CEO while it searched for a permanent replacement.
US Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Coons asked President Donald Trump's administration to preserve records related to Nvidia's chip exports to China, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a letter from the senators. The request also covers records related to Huang's alleged affair with a woman suspected of working for Chinese intelligence.
Nvidia's board was meeting Wednesday to decide whether to remove co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang, media outlets, led by The Wall Street Journal, reported.
Huang has led the company for more than three decades, turning it from a gaming chipmaker into the dominant supplier of chips for artificial intelligence.
Why is Nvidia's board considering replacing Huang?
The report comes as Nvidia investigates whether Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort after reports of an affair with a woman US intelligence reportedly identified as a Chinese intelligence asset. The New York Times reported Wednesday that Huang also had an affair with an Nvidia executive who reported to him.
News that Nvidia might part ways with Huang sent the company's shares down about 8% in after-hours trading.
A reporter for the financial news outlet Bloomberg said on X that Nvidia's board was working with an outside firm to identify potential successors and considering an interim CEO while it searched for a permanent replacement.
US Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Coons asked President Donald Trump's administration to preserve records related to Nvidia's chip exports to China, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a letter from the senators. The request also covers records related to Huang's alleged affair with a woman suspected of working for Chinese intelligence.
What has Huang said?
Huang acknowledged in a note to employees that he had been unfaithful to his wife. He did not publicly name the woman. The New York Times identified her as Alice H., a former executive at Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed who is not related to him. Beijing rejected the espionage allegation.
Shareholders sued Nvidia and Huang on Monday in a proposed class action suit accusing them of concealing the alleged relationship and the risks it posed to the company.
What do we know about the second alleged affair?
The New York Times identified the Nvidia executive as Kimberly Powell, the company's vice president of health care. Asked about the relationship, Huang told the newspaper, "I don't think you should be talking to me directly," before ending the call.
Nvidia and Powell did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported.
Reporting on stories from around the world, with a particular focus on Europe — especially Germany.
Edited by:Sean Sinico
Nvidia shareholders sue Jensen Huang over alleged spy ties
Richard Connor
"I support the investigation and will cooperate fully," he said. "I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America's national security."
Nvidia shares closed down 4.3% Monday. The lawsuit was filed five minutes after US markets closed.
How have Washington and Beijing responded?
US President Donald Trump said Monday that the FBI was investigating the matter, while expressing support for Huang.
Trump said he had spoken to the executive earlier that day.
"He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy," Trump told reporters.
China denied conducting an intelligence operation targeting Huang.
"The so-called Chinese spy allegation is unsubstantiated. It is nothing but smears against China," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
Why does the case matter for the AI industry?
Huang co-founded Nvidia and led its transformation from a maker of gaming chips into a leading supplier of the computing technology powering artificial intelligence.
Its advanced chips have become a focus of US-China competition, with Washington restricting exports to limit Beijing's access to the technology.
Huang has pushed for looser restrictions on sales to China. The investigations have intensified scrutiny of his leadership and whether confidential company information was compromised.
Richard Connor Reporting on stories from around the world, with a particular focus on Europe — especially Germany.
Richard Connor
DW with AP, dpa, Reuters
11/10/2026
Nvidia shareholders have sued the chipmaker and its CEO, Jensen Huang, over his alleged ties to a suspected Chinese spy. The case adds to scrutiny over whether sensitive information at the AI giant was compromised.
Nvidia shareholders have sued the chipmaker and its CEO, Jensen Huang, over his alleged ties to a suspected Chinese spy. The case adds to scrutiny over whether sensitive information at the AI giant was compromised.
Huang led Nvidia's transformation from a gaming chipmaker into a central supplier of AI technology (FILE: Oct 21, 2026)Image: Soeren Stache/dpa/picture alliance
Shareholders sued chipmaker Nvidia and its chief executive, Jensen Huang, on Monday, accusing them of concealing his alleged relationship with a suspected Chinese intelligence asset.
The proposed class action adds to investigations into whether Huang was targeted by foreign intelligence, raising questions about the security of sensitive information at the world's most valuable chipmaker.
What does the lawsuit allege?
The complaint, filed in federal court in San Jose, California, alleges that Nvidia and Huang misled investors about his relationship with Alice H., a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed.
Shareholders say the defendants failed to disclose national security concerns that threatened Nvidia's reputation and business prospects. They are seeking unspecified damages.
The New York Times reported last month on the alleged relationship and said US authorities had concluded that Alice H. was a Chinese intelligence asset.
What have Nvidia and Huang said?
Nvidia announced an independent investigation Sunday into reports that Huang had been the "target of a foreign intelligence effort."
Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in an open letter, but did not identify the woman.
Shareholders sued chipmaker Nvidia and its chief executive, Jensen Huang, on Monday, accusing them of concealing his alleged relationship with a suspected Chinese intelligence asset.
The proposed class action adds to investigations into whether Huang was targeted by foreign intelligence, raising questions about the security of sensitive information at the world's most valuable chipmaker.
What does the lawsuit allege?
The complaint, filed in federal court in San Jose, California, alleges that Nvidia and Huang misled investors about his relationship with Alice H., a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed.
Shareholders say the defendants failed to disclose national security concerns that threatened Nvidia's reputation and business prospects. They are seeking unspecified damages.
The New York Times reported last month on the alleged relationship and said US authorities had concluded that Alice H. was a Chinese intelligence asset.
What have Nvidia and Huang said?
Nvidia announced an independent investigation Sunday into reports that Huang had been the "target of a foreign intelligence effort."
Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in an open letter, but did not identify the woman.
Nvidia investigates CEO after reports of affair with Chinese spy 16:35
"I support the investigation and will cooperate fully," he said. "I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America's national security."
Nvidia shares closed down 4.3% Monday. The lawsuit was filed five minutes after US markets closed.
How have Washington and Beijing responded?
US President Donald Trump said Monday that the FBI was investigating the matter, while expressing support for Huang.
Trump said he had spoken to the executive earlier that day.
"He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy," Trump told reporters.
China denied conducting an intelligence operation targeting Huang.
"The so-called Chinese spy allegation is unsubstantiated. It is nothing but smears against China," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
Why does the case matter for the AI industry?
Huang co-founded Nvidia and led its transformation from a maker of gaming chips into a leading supplier of the computing technology powering artificial intelligence.
Its advanced chips have become a focus of US-China competition, with Washington restricting exports to limit Beijing's access to the technology.
Huang has pushed for looser restrictions on sales to China. The investigations have intensified scrutiny of his leadership and whether confidential company information was compromised.
Richard Connor Reporting on stories from around the world, with a particular focus on Europe — especially Germany.
Edited by:Wesley Rahn
Nvidia shares plunge following reports CEO Huang could be ousted
12.11.2026,
Nvidia shares plunged on Wednesday following media reports that the US chipmaker's board was considering removing chief executive Jensen Huang.
On Sunday, Nvidia said it had launched an investigation into reports that Huang had become the target of "foreign intelligence efforts."
There had been media reports suggesting that Huang had been having an affair with a woman whom US security circles believed had been recruited by the Chinese secret service.
Huang confirmed in an email to Nvidia staff that he had been having an affair.
The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Nvidia board could meet shortly to decide on Huang's future. The New York Times also reported on Wednesday that Huang allegedly had another affair with a staff member who reported to him. According to the report, Huang and Nvidia initially declined to comment.
Shares of the chipmaker fell by as much as 9% in after-hours trading, their lowest level since mid-2025.
Nvidia is a key player in the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Chips from the Santa Clara-based company in Silicon Valley dominate data centres when it comes to training and operating AI.
Huang has made a name for himself as the face of the AI revolution - at company conferences and other public appearances, he tirelessly extols the world-changing role of AI in all areas of life.
(c) 2026 dpa Deutsche Presse Agentur GmbH
Issued on: 10/11/2026 - FRANCE24
Nvidia and its Chief Executive Jensen Huang were sued on Monday in a proposed class action accusing them of defrauding shareholders by concealing Huang's ties with a suspected Chinese spy. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney, Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute, says that the affair "can also be about effectively lobbying Jensen Huang to lobby the US government, because he is a very powerful figure, particularly during the Trump administration, and he, for whatever reason, has been taking a position that is beneficial to Chinese development and advancement of its AI capacity".
Video by:
Sharon GAFFNEY
Nvidia's Huang scandal rattles AI industry built around him
Issued on: 09/11/2026 -
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang sits at the center of the artificial intelligence boom, and the spy scandal that erupted over the weekend threatens to shake the company at a time when confidence in the AI investment frenzy is already fragile. Taiwan-born Huang is regarded as the godfather of the AI economy, the executive every player in the industry must turn to because the technology depends on the graphics processing units (GPUs) that his company designs.
Issued on: 09/11/2026 -
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang sits at the center of the artificial intelligence boom, and the spy scandal that erupted over the weekend threatens to shake the company at a time when confidence in the AI investment frenzy is already fragile. Taiwan-born Huang is regarded as the godfather of the AI economy, the executive every player in the industry must turn to because the technology depends on the graphics processing units (GPUs) that his company designs.
FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet reports from Los Angeles.
Video by: Wassim CORNET
Video by: Wassim CORNET
Nvidia to probe reports that Chinese intelligence targeted CEO Jensen Huang
Issued on: 09/11/2026
Nvidia’s board said Sunday it would investigate reports that CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The New York Times reported Huang had an affair with an executive US intelligence believed was gathering information for Beijing. Huang will remain CEO during the inquiry and has pledged cooperation.
Video by: FRANCE 24
Issued on: 09/11/2026
Nvidia’s board said Sunday it would investigate reports that CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The New York Times reported Huang had an affair with an executive US intelligence believed was gathering information for Beijing. Huang will remain CEO during the inquiry and has pledged cooperation.
Video by: FRANCE 24
