In a monumental leadership change for the semiconductor industry, Jensen Huang resigns as NVIDIA CEO and director effective immediately. The surprise departure marks the conclusion of a historic 33-year tenure at the helm of the company he co-founded in 1993.
NVIDIA officially announced the executive transition today, confirming that longtime Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has stepped up to lead daily corporate operations as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Colette Kress Appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer
Colette Kress will serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer while simultaneously retaining her ongoing responsibilities as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Kress has guided the company’s financial strategy since joining in 2013 and commands broad respect across Wall Street.
She emphasized that NVIDIA’s core business trajectory remains unaffected by the transition. The leadership team intends to maintain full execution speed across accelerated computing architectures, data center systems, and commercial AI partnerships.
Harvey C. Jones Named First-Ever Chairman of the Board
Alongside the executive change, the NVIDIA Board of Directors named independent director Harvey C. Jones as the first-ever Chairman of the Board. Jones has served on NVIDIA’s board since its founding year in 1993 and brings decades of semiconductor governance expertise.
Jones extended the board’s deep appreciation to Huang for more than three decades of vision, noting that his leadership transformed computer graphics and spearheaded modern accelerated computing.
The board expressed complete confidence in Kress and the executive committee to steward operational execution while the board conducts a formal search for NVIDIA’s next permanent leader.
Comprehensive Executive Search for Next Permanent Leader
NVIDIA’s Board of Directors has initiated a formal, comprehensive search process to select a permanent Chief Executive Officer. The board plans to evaluate both internal operational leaders and external candidates to identify the right executive.
The executive committee will work closely with Chairman Jones throughout the transition window to ensure uninterrupted continuity for global partners, enterprise clients, and developers.
Financial Reporting and Operational Continuity Maintained
NVIDIA affirmed that its upcoming third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results conference call remains on schedule for Tuesday, November 17, 2026. The executive team will address analysts and provide standard forward-looking financial commentary as planned.
Despite the sudden nature of the transition, the company maintains that product roadmaps and customer deliveries continue without disruption across worldwide supply chains.
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