CFO Colette Kress takes over as interim CEO while NVIDIA’s board begins searching for a permanent successor to Huang.
NVIDIA has announced a major leadership change as co-founder Jensen Huang steps down from his positions as President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and a member of the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. His departure marks a significant turning point for the technology giant after 33 years of leadership.
Following Huang’s resignation, NVIDIA’s Board of Directors has appointed Colette Kress, the company’s current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as interim CEO. She will retain her financial responsibilities while overseeing the company’s operations until a permanent chief executive is selected.
The board has also confirmed that it will begin searching for a permanent replacement, considering both internal and external candidates. The appointment process is expected to determine who will lead NVIDIA through its next phase of growth in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence and computing industries.
Kress joined NVIDIA in September 2013 and has played an important role in managing the company’s finances during a period of substantial expansion. Before joining the technology company, she spent nearly 25 years working in financial leadership positions at major corporations, including Cisco and Microsoft.
Alongside the executive transition, NVIDIA has appointed Harvey C. Jones as the first-ever Chair of its Board of Directors. Jones brings more than three decades of experience as an entrepreneur, technology executive, and venture investor. He previously served as CEO and Executive Chairman of Synopsys.
Commenting on the leadership transition, Jones expressed confidence in Kress and NVIDIA’s existing management team. He highlighted her understanding of the company’s operations, customers, financial position, and business strategy. The board also expects the leadership change to have no impact on customer commitments, ongoing operations, or the company’s product development plans.
Kress said she intends to build on the foundation established by Huang over the past 33 years. She reaffirmed NVIDIA’s commitment to advancing accelerated computing and artificial intelligence while maintaining strong relationships with customers, partners, developers, and shareholders.
NVIDIA has also confirmed that its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results will be announced on November 17, as previously scheduled. The earnings announcement is expected at approximately 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time, followed by an earnings conference call at 2 p.m.