NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Resigns After 33 Years, CFO Colette Kress Takes Interim Leadership of the AI Giant

NVIDIA announces a major leadership transition as co-founder Jensen Huang steps down as President, Chief Executive Officer and Board member. Long-serving CFO Colette Kress assumes interim leadership, while Harvey C. Jones becomes the company's first-ever Board Chair, marking a significant moment for one of the world's most influential AI companies.

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), the global leader in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence, has announced a major corporate leadership transition following the resignation of Jensen Huang as President, Chief Executive Officer and member of its Board of Directors.

The company confirmed the decision in an official announcement dated November 12, 2026, bringing Huang's 33-year tenure as the driving force behind NVIDIA's development to a close.

Colette Kress, NVIDIA's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer. She will continue to hold her existing CFO responsibilities while the Board conducts a search for a permanent successor.

The company has also appointed Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever Chair of the Board, establishing a new leadership structure during a critical period for the global AI industry.

Jensen Huang's Legacy: From Graphics Processing to the AI Economy

Jensen Huang co-founded NVIDIA in 1993 and helped transform the company from a graphics technology business into a central player in global artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Under his leadership, NVIDIA's technologies became increasingly important to high-performance computing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, autonomous systems and industrial automation.

The company's accelerated computing platforms now support applications across industries including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and scientific research.

Huang's departure represents more than a change in executive leadership. It marks the end of a defining period in NVIDIA's corporate history, during which the company helped establish the technological foundations of the modern AI economy.

Colette Kress Appointed Interim CEO

Colette Kress has served as NVIDIA's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since September 2013.

During her tenure, she has overseen the company's finance organisation through a period of significant expansion, including NVIDIA's growing position in AI infrastructure and accelerated computing.

Before joining NVIDIA, Kress spent nearly 25 years in senior finance roles at technology companies including Microsoft and Cisco.

Her appointment provides leadership continuity as NVIDIA navigates a transition at the highest level of management.

In the company's official announcement, Kress emphasised her commitment to maintaining NVIDIA's existing strategic direction and building upon the foundation established during Huang's leadership.

She said:

"NVIDIA's strength has always come from its people, and together with our leadership team, I am committed to building on the extraordinary foundation Jensen created over the last 33 years."

The Board has confirmed that its search for a permanent CEO will consider both internal and external candidates.

Harvey C. Jones Named First-Ever Board Chair

NVIDIA has also appointed Harvey C. Jones as Chair of its Board of Directors.

Jones brings more than three decades of experience as an entrepreneur, technology executive and venture investor. His previous leadership experience includes senior roles at Synopsys, where he served as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman.

The appointment introduces a distinct Board Chair role as NVIDIA enters its next phase of corporate governance.

Jones expressed confidence in the company's existing executive leadership and indicated that NVIDIA expects its operations, customer commitments and technology roadmap to continue without interruption.

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