NVIDIA's Jensen Huang Resigns; CFO Colette Kress Named Interim CEO

Jensen Huang has stepped down as president and chief executive of NVIDIA, effective immediately, and the company's board has named finance chief Colette Kress as interim CEO, according to NVIDIA. The move takes one of the most visible figures in artificial intelligence out of the top job at a company that describes itself as the world leader in AI and accelerated computing, and it leaves the industry watching to see who leads NVIDIA next.

What happened at NVIDIA?

NVIDIA's Board of Directors announced that Jensen Huang resigned as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board, effective immediately, according to a press release dated November 12, 2026. Colette Kress, the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, agreed to serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer. NVIDIA said Kress will hold both the interim CEO role and her existing CFO title until a permanent successor is named, and that the board has begun a search that will weigh both internal and external candidates.

The board also made a separate change at the top of its own ranks. It appointed Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever Chair of the Board, a title NVIDIA says the company did not have before.

Who is Colette Kress, NVIDIA's interim CEO?

Kress is not new to NVIDIA. According to the company, she has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since joining in September 2013, leading the finance organization through a stretch the company describes as a period of extraordinary growth. Before NVIDIA, she spent nearly 25 years in finance roles at leading technology companies, including Cisco and Microsoft.

That finance background appears central to why the board turned to her. In the announcement, board chair Harvey Jones said Kress "has a deep understanding of our business, customers, operations and financial position," and said the board has "full confidence" in her and the leadership team.

Who is Harvey Jones, NVIDIA's first board chair?

Harvey C. Jones becomes the first person to hold the title of Chair of the Board at NVIDIA. According to the company, he has spent more than 30 years as an entrepreneur, technology executive, and active venture investor, and he previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Synopsys.

His appointment gives the board a designated leader for the first time and places a longtime technology and semiconductor figure in charge of overseeing the search for a permanent CEO.

What did NVIDIA say about continuity?

NVIDIA framed the handover as uninterrupted. Jones said the company expects its "operations, customer commitments and product roadmap to continue without interruption," pointing to an experienced leadership team.

Kress struck a similar note. "NVIDIA's strength has always come from its people," she said, adding that she is committed to "building on the extraordinary foundation Jensen created over the last 33 years." She said the company will keep advancing its work in accelerated computing and AI, with its focus on customers, partners, developers and shareholders.

What comes next for NVIDIA?

Two things are worth watching. First, the board is searching for a permanent CEO and will consider candidates from both inside and outside the company, according to NVIDIA. Second, the transition lands just ahead of a scheduled financial update: NVIDIA says it will report third-quarter fiscal 2027 results on Tuesday, November 17, at approximately 1:20 p.m. PT, followed by an earnings call at 2 p.m. PT.

That timing means Kress steps into the interim role only days before the company reports results to investors, a stretch when leadership stability tends to draw close attention.

What this means for AI builders using Grafy

NVIDIA describes itself as the world leader in AI and accelerated computing, and a change at the very top of a company in that position is the kind of industry shift that ripples across the tools builders rely on. It does not alter any product feature you use day to day.

There is no direct feature tie-in here, so treat this as a reading suggestion from the Grafy News Desk. If you want to see how different AI systems frame the same story, Grafy Chat lets you put one question to several models side by side, and the guide on asking several models and letting a judge pick shows how to compare their answers. If you would rather work from the primary documents, Reader can help you question NVIDIA's financial disclosures and press releases when you have them as PDFs.

Frequently asked questions

Who is serving as NVIDIA's interim CEO after Jensen Huang?

Colette Kress, NVIDIA's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer. According to NVIDIA, she will hold both the interim CEO role and the CFO title until a permanent successor is named. She joined NVIDIA in September 2013 and previously held finance roles at Cisco and Microsoft.

Did NVIDIA give a reason for Jensen Huang's resignation?

No. NVIDIA's announcement said only that Huang resigned as President, CEO, and a board member, effective immediately, and it did not state a reason in the release. The board thanked him for his contributions, and Kress said she would build on the foundation he created over 33 years. No further explanation appears in the source.

Who is Harvey Jones, NVIDIA's new board chair?

Harvey C. Jones is NVIDIA's first-ever Chair of the Board. According to the company, he has more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur, technology executive, and venture investor, and he previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Synopsys. In the announcement, he expressed the board's confidence in interim CEO Colette Kress.

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Source: Hacker News — front page — NVIDIA Announces CEO Transition