Jensen Huang has resigned as chief executive of Nvidia after weeks of addressing allegations of extramarital affairs. Those who spoke with Huang during his final hours as CEO described a marked shift in his demeanor, with the typically detail-oriented executive appearing depleted and repeatedly saying phrases like "whatever" and "I don't care," according to Bloomberg.
In his final days, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in a message to employees, apologizing to his family, colleagues, and shareholders. He told associates he was most concerned about his wife and protecting the women publicly linked to him from damage to their lives.
When contacted by the New York Times about a report of a second affair involving an Nvidia executive, Huang's only response before hanging up was: "I don't think you should be talking to me directly."
Trump's Call and Huang's Response
President Donald Trump called Huang on Tuesday urging him to fight to keep his job, according to the New York Times citing two people briefed on the conversation. Huang resigned hours later regardless. Trump subsequently told radio host Stephen A. Smith that Huang had called him expressing regret, saying "He's going through hell" and noting that Huang felt most badly about his wife and family.
Trump predicted Huang would recover from the situation, stating "Somehow he'll end up on his feet." Earlier in the week, Trump had publicly described Huang as an honorable man and expressed belief that Huang was unaware of alleged connections between the woman linked to him and Chinese intelligence. China has denied spying allegations.
Leadership Changes
Nvidia has named Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while searching for a permanent replacement. Harvey Jones has been appointed the company's first board chair. In a message to staff, Jones wrote that "Jensen's contributions to Nvidia are profound."
Congressional Testimony Expected
Huang is expected to testify before Congress in the coming weeks. Lawmakers plan to question him about his relationship with the woman US intelligence reportedly suspected of being a Chinese operative and whether it posed security risks regarding Nvidia's most advanced chip technology.
