TL;DR
Nvidia announced that Jensen Huang resigned as CEO, president and a board member, effective immediately on Nov. 12, 2026. The company named CFO Colette Kress interim CEO and said it had begun searching for a permanent successor; Thorsten Meyer AI argues the departure is a mistake, while Nvidia has not publicly given a reason for the resignation.
Nvidia announced on Nov. 12 that Jensen Huang had resigned as president, chief executive and a member of its board, effective immediately. The company named Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress interim CEO and said it had begun a search for a permanent leader; an opinion article published by Thorsten Meyer AI argues that losing Huang could hurt Nvidia and U.S. interests.
Get everyday essentials delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Nvidia described the departure as a resignation in a news release and a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither the release nor the filing stated why Huang resigned. Kress will hold the interim CEO role while remaining CFO, and Harvey C. Jones will become board chair, a position Nvidia described as the board’s first-ever chair.
The change followed a Nov. 8 statement in which Nvidia’s board said it had opened an independent investigation “in light of recent reporting” that Huang “has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort.” The board said it saw “no reason to believe” that company secrets had been compromised. Those statements describe the board’s position; they do not establish that an intelligence effort occurred or explain Huang’s departure.
On Nov. 11, CNBC live updates reported that The Wall Street Journal said the board was preparing to oust Huang. Nvidia’s subsequent statement and SEC filing said he had resigned. The difference between the reported preparation to remove him and the company’s description of a resignation remains unresolved in the public statements cited here.
Jensen Huang resigns what is known—and what remains unclear
Nvidia announced Huang’s immediate departure on November 12, 2026. The company has not publicly explained why he resigned.
Leadership changes
Nvidia confirmed the transition and interim appointments.
Colette Kress
Nvidia’s CFO will serve as interim CEO while remaining CFO.
Harvey C. Jones
Jones is set to become the board’s first chair.
What the public record says
The events happened close together, but their relationship has not been established.
Confirmed and unresolved
- Huang resigned from his CEO, president and board roles.
- Kress is interim CEO, and the company has begun a permanent CEO search.
- The board said it had no reason to believe company secrets were compromised.
- Why Huang resigned, or whether the board asked him to leave.
- Whether the investigation influenced the departure or has concluded.
- Who will become permanent CEO and when a successor will be named.
Why the handoff matters
Nvidia supplies computing hardware used in AI, so leadership changes may shape how investors, employees, customers and partners view its direction. The company has not announced an immediate change to strategy or operations.
Nvidia Faces a Leadership Handoff
The leadership change comes at a consequential moment for Nvidia’s business and the wider AI industry. Huang has led the company as it became a major supplier of computing hardware used in artificial intelligence. A change at the top may affect how investors, employees, customers and business partners assess the company’s direction, though the available announcements do not describe any immediate change to strategy or operations.
Thorsten Meyer AI’s article makes a stronger argument: it says Nvidia’s decision to let Huang go is a mistake for the company, the United States and humanity. That is the author’s opinion, not a conclusion established by Nvidia’s announcements. The article compares the situation with Apple’s decision to fire Steve Jobs, while arguing that Nvidia’s role in AI makes Huang’s departure especially consequential. The comparison is an interpretation and does not establish that the companies’ circumstances are alike.
The opinion article also describes Huang as kind and humble, and says the author has heard praise from more than a thousand people who know or have worked with him. Those are the author’s personal observations and accounts shared privately, rather than independently documented evidence presented in the article. The distinction matters because Nvidia has not disclosed its reason for the departure, leaving readers without a confirmed basis to assess the decision.
Popular right now
Sony BRAVIA 6 65-Inch OLED 4K HDR Smart Google TV with Gemini (K-65A60)
Vitamix VX1 Professional-Grade Blender, 64 oz, Black
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Board Probe Preceded Departure
Nvidia’s public timeline begins with the board’s Nov. 8 announcement of an independent investigation. The board linked that inquiry to recent reporting about an alleged foreign intelligence effort targeting Huang. It also said it had no reason to believe company secrets were compromised. The statement did not identify the reporting, provide details about the alleged effort or say that the investigation had reached a conclusion.
Three days later, CNBC reported that The Wall Street Journal said Nvidia’s board was preparing to oust Huang. On Nov. 12, Nvidia announced his resignation and named interim leadership. These events occurred in close succession, but the timing alone does not establish that the investigation caused the resignation or that the board’s reported preparations led to it.
The company’s Nov. 12 announcement set out immediate leadership arrangements and the start of a permanent CEO search. It did not announce a permanent successor or describe a change in Huang’s status beyond his resignation from the roles named in the release. The available information therefore establishes a leadership transition, but leaves the reasons behind it open.
““no reason to believe” secrets were compromised”
— Nvidia’s board, Nov. 8 statement
Reason for Resignation Remains Unknown
Nvidia has not publicly explained why Huang resigned in the cited announcement or SEC filing. The public record provided here does not establish whether the board asked him to leave, whether the investigation influenced the timing, or whether other personal or business considerations played a role.
The investigation’s findings are also unknown. Nvidia’s board said it saw no reason to believe secrets were compromised, but it did not say the inquiry was complete. The underlying reporting about an alleged foreign intelligence effort is not detailed in the company’s statement, and the company has not publicly connected that allegation to Huang’s resignation.
It is also unclear how long Kress will serve as interim CEO, which candidates Nvidia may consider, or when the board expects to select a permanent successor. The company has not announced whether Huang will have any future role at Nvidia.
Nvidia Begins Permanent CEO Search
Nvidia says it has begun searching for a permanent CEO. The next concrete development will be an announcement from the company about its selection or the timing of that process. Until then, Kress is the interim chief executive while continuing as CFO, and Jones is set to serve as board chair.
Further statements from Nvidia could clarify the board investigation, the circumstances of Huang’s resignation and any leadership or strategy plans during the interim period. For now, the company has confirmed the departure and interim appointments, but the reason for the change and the investigation’s outcome remain undisclosed.
Source: Thorsten Meyer AI
Key Questions
Did Nvidia say Jensen Huang was fired?
No. Nvidia said Huang resigned, effective immediately on Nov. 12. CNBC had reported that The Wall Street Journal said the board was preparing to oust him, but Nvidia’s public announcement did not describe the departure as a firing.
Who is Nvidia’s interim CEO?
Colette Kress, Nvidia’s CFO, is interim CEO. The company said she will remain CFO while serving in the interim role.
Why did Jensen Huang resign?
Nvidia’s announcement and SEC filing did not give a reason. The board had announced an independent investigation after reporting about an alleged foreign intelligence effort targeting Huang, but Nvidia has not publicly said the investigation caused his resignation.
What is Thorsten Meyer AI’s position on the departure?
The article argues that Nvidia’s decision to let Huang go is harmful to Nvidia and the United States. It is an opinion piece, and its assessments of Huang and the consequences of his departure should be read as the author’s views.
Source: Thorsten Meyer AI
