Claims of ‘second affair’ puts Jensen Huang’s Nvidia job at risk. Who could succeed him as company boss if ousted?

New Delhi: Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang, position is facing fresh uncertainty as the company’s board meets to consider his possible removal. The leadership crisis has deepened following reports of second alleged extramarital relationship, this time involving a senior Nvidia executive, Kimberly Powell. The developments come alongside an ongoing investigation into a separate controversy involving a woman suspected of having links to Chinese intelligence.

Nvidia’s board was scheduled to meet late Wednesday to decide whether Huang should continue as chief executive, Reuters reported. The meeting marks a shift from Sunday, when directors had expressed confidence in his leadership. The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that Nvidia was preparing to fire him, although no final decision has been confirmed. Under the company’s bylaws, a majority of directors can remove the CEO with or without cause.

Who is Kimberly Powell?

The latest allegation was reported by the New York Times, which identified Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice-president of healthcare, as the woman involved. Powell is a senior executive who joined Nvidia in 2008 and has spent more than 18 years at the company. She leads its global healthcare business, covering AI applications in medical imaging, life sciences, drug discovery, genomics, clinical research and healthcare analytics. She previously headed the company’s higher education and research business and reportedly reported directly to Huang.

Huang had earlier declined to have extra marital allegations involving Alice Huang but later admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and apologized to employees on Sunday. However, neither Huang nor Nvidia has commented on the latest allegation involving Kimberly Powell, while Powell has also not responded to allegation.

The earlier controversy centres on Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed. US officials suspect her of having links to Chinese intelligence and helping Chinese companies obtain Nvidia chips, an allegation Beijing has denied.

Nvidia has maintained that no trade secrets or US national security interests were compromised. Its board appointed outside legal counsel to investigate whether Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. Huang has said he supports the investigation and will cooperate.

The allegations have also prompted questions from US lawmakers over Nvidia’s links to China. Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren and Chris Coons have asked the Trump administration to preserve records related to the company’s chip exports to China and provide a briefing on possible national security risks, Reuters reported.

Republican lawmakers have separately sought a closed-door briefing from Huang on Nvidia’s security procedures and his interactions with Alice Huang, warning that he could face a subpoena if he does not respond.

Who could replace Jensen Huang?

Huang’s possible departure could leave a leadership vacuum at the nearly $4 trillion chipmaker he co-founded in 1993. He owns around 3.6 per cent of the company and has no obvious successor. Bloomberg reported that Nvidia was working with an outside firm to identify potential replacements.

The chief financial officer, Colette Kress, who has held the position for more than a decade, has emerged as a possible interim CEO. Ian Buck, who oversees Nvidia’s data-centre business, is another potential candidate, Reuters reported. However, no successor has been publicly identified.

The uncertainty has also affected Nvidia’s market performance. Its shares fell more than 8 per cent in extended trading after the Wall Street Journal report. If the losses hold, the company could lose around $600 billion in market value over the week. Nvidia is scheduled to announce its quarterly results on November 17.

Huang’s personal fortune has also declined following the stock sell-off. Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index placed him 13th among the world’s richest people.

Musk says hiring him would be an honour

The United States president, Donald Trump, has publicly backed Huang, saying he believed the Nvidia chief did not know that Alice Huang was suspected of being a spy. Trump described him as an honourable person who had done an excellent job for the country.

Meanwhile, Axios reported that commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, had stalled an administration effort to crack down on companies suspected of diverting Nvidia chips to China. The White House and Lutnick’s spokesperson did not immediately comment.

Elon Musk has also weighed in on Huang’s uncertain future. Responding to an X post suggesting that he hire the Nvidia chief if he leaves the company, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO said it would be “an honour”.

Huang has led Nvidia for more than three decades, turning it into the world’s dominant supplier of chips powering artificial intelligence systems. The board’s reported deliberations have now put his leadership and the company’s succession plans under scrutiny.