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Colette Kress is the Executive Vice President and CFO of NVIDIA, also serving as interim CEO currently.
Colette Marie Kress (born 1967) is an American business executive and financial leader serving as interim Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NVIDIA Corporation, a global technology company specialising in accelerated computing, artificial intelligence and semiconductor technology.
Kress was appointed interim CEO in November 2026 following the resignation of NVIDIA co-founder Jensen Huang. She has served as the company's CFO since September 2013, overseeing financial strategy, reporting, planning and capital management during NVIDIA's expansion into a major provider of AI computing infrastructure.
Before joining NVIDIA, Kress held senior financial leadership positions at Cisco Systems, Microsoft and Texas Instruments. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
She has been recognised by Fortune and Forbes for her influence in business and technology, including ranking 49th on Fortune's 2026 Most Powerful Women list.
Colette Marie Kress was born in 1967 in the United States. She pursued higher education in finance, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Arizona. She subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration at Southern Methodist University.
Her academic background in finance and business management provided the foundation for a career spanning more than three decades in the global technology industry.
Kress began her professional career at Texas Instruments, where she held various financial positions and developed experience in corporate finance and technology operations.
She later joined Microsoft, spending approximately 13 years with the company. During this period, she held senior positions in corporate planning and finance, including four years as Chief Financial Officer of Microsoft's Server and Tools division.
Following her tenure at Microsoft, Kress joined Cisco Systems, serving for three years as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the company's Business Technology and Operations Finance organisation.
At Cisco, she was responsible for financial strategy, business planning, reporting and business development across engineering, operations and other business segments.
In September 2013, NVIDIA appointed Kress Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She joined the company during a period when its business was primarily associated with graphics processing technology, gaming and visual computing.
Over the following years, NVIDIA expanded its position in accelerated computing, data centres, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
As CFO, Kress helped manage the financial demands of this expansion, overseeing financial reporting, capital planning, investment decisions and relationships with institutional investors.
She also became a prominent representative of NVIDIA during quarterly earnings calls, communicating the company's financial results, business outlook and investment priorities to analysts and shareholders.
During Kress's tenure as CFO, NVIDIA developed into one of the world's most valuable technology companies, supported by demand for graphics processing units, AI accelerators and data-centre infrastructure.
Her responsibilities included managing the financial implications of rapidly growing AI infrastructure investment, semiconductor demand and the company's expanding relationships with customers and technology partners.
Kress was also involved in financial planning and investment decisions associated with NVIDIA's broader AI ecosystem, including its relationships with major cloud and AI companies.
On 12 November 2026, NVIDIA announced that Colette Kress would serve as interim Chief Executive Officer following Jensen Huang's resignation, effective 11 November.
NVIDIA's board appointed Kress to provide executive leadership while it conducts a search for a permanent CEO. She retained her responsibilities as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer during the interim appointment.
Her selection followed more than 13 years in NVIDIA's senior leadership team and reflected her extensive knowledge of the company's financial operations, business strategy and relationships with customers and investors.
The leadership transition placed Kress at the centre of NVIDIA's continued development in accelerated computing, AI infrastructure and global semiconductor technology.
Colette Kress's approach to business leadership centres on financial discipline, operational efficiency, long-term investment and the commercial development of advanced computing technologies.
Throughout her tenure at NVIDIA, she has communicated the company's financial strategy during the expansion of artificial intelligence, accelerated computing and data-centre infrastructure.
Her leadership has involved balancing investment in technological growth with financial planning, shareholder expectations and changing market conditions.
Following her appointment as interim CEO in November 2026, Kress emphasised continuity in NVIDIA's operations, customer relationships and technological development. Her stated priorities include supporting the company's leadership in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence while continuing to serve customers, partners, developers and shareholders.
Her executive responsibilities combine financial management with strategic oversight of a company operating at the centre of the global AI infrastructure industry.
Colette Kress has received recognition for her financial leadership and influence within the global technology industry.
Fortune Most Powerful Women (2026): Ranked 49th on Fortune's annual list of the most powerful women in business, recognising her executive role at NVIDIA and her contribution to the company's financial management during the expansion of AI computing.
Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women (2025): Ranked 37th, reflecting her influence in the technology sector and leadership in corporate finance.
Forbes America's Richest Self-Made Women (2026): Ranked joint 32nd, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion as of June 2026.
MarketWatch 50 (2023): Recognised among influential figures shaping business and markets, particularly through her role in NVIDIA's AI-related growth.
Her professional recognition reflects her contributions to corporate finance, technology investment and business leadership.
