Nvidia Names CFO Colette Kress Interim CEO as Jensen Huang Steps Down

 

THE DAILY BRIEF

Friday, November 13, 2026

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

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Nvidia Names CFO Colette Kress Interim CEO as Jensen Huang Steps Down

The co-founder leaves immediately after 33 years, and the board begins a search for a permanent chief executive.

Nvidia said on Thursday that co-founder Jensen Huang has resigned as president, chief executive and board member, effective immediately. Chief financial officer Colette Kress will serve as interim CEO while the company looks for a successor.

Kress will keep her finance role until a permanent chief is named. The board said it will consider both internal and external candidates, and that operations, customer commitments and the product roadmap should continue without interruption.

KEY FACTS

• Interim CEO: Colette Kress, who also remains CFO

• Board chair: Harvey Jones, former Synopsys CEO, named Nvidia's first-ever chair

• Huang's tenure: 33 years leading the company he co-founded

WHY IT HAPPENED

Coverage links the departure to reports of two extramarital relationships. One involved a woman described in reports as a Chinese national connected to a company called Megaspeed, and the other involved a senior Nvidia executive. Reuters-sourced reporting says Huang acknowledged one relationship in a letter to employees.

WHAT TO WATCH

Analysts are raising questions about succession, Nvidia's share price and US-China tensions over chip export policy. Nvidia supplies processors for many of the world's largest AI data centers, so customers and investors will closely follow the choice of a permanent CEO.

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POLITICS

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Sen. Chris Van Hollen Will Challenge Chuck Schumer for Democratic Leader

The Maryland Democrat says he will run for Senate majority leader in the next Congress, after his party's midterm gains.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced Thursday that he will seek the top Democratic post in the Senate, setting up a direct contest with current Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. The announcement follows the party's strong showing in the midterm elections. AP's headline says Van Hollen cited voters' call for change.

KEY FACTS

• Challenger: Chris Van Hollen, Maryland

• Incumbent leader: Chuck Schumer, New York

• Known backer: Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan

WHERE SUPPORT STANDS

AP reports that most Democratic senators have either said they back Schumer or are undecided. Van Hollen's one named supporter so far is Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed, who won a competitive Senate race last week.

WHAT TO WATCH

Democratic senators in the new Congress will decide the leadership election. Watch for public endorsements from sitting senators and any response from Schumer.

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SOURCES

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Nvidia

• Reuters via TimesLIVE: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/business/2026-11-12-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-steps-down-in-body-blow-to-ai-boom/

• Daily Excelsior: https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/jensen-huang-quits-as-nvidia-ceo-with-immediate-effect-cfo-colette-kress-named-interim-chief/

• Globes: https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-nvidia-founder-and-ceo-jensen-huang-steps-down-1001563256

• Devdiscourse: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/4005992-jensen-huang-resigns-as-nvidia-ceo-cfo-colette-kress-named-interim-ceo-by-board

Senate

• CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chris-van-hollen-challenge-chuck-schumer-senate-majority-leader-democrat/

• PBS News (AP): https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/van-hollen-to-challenge-schumer-for-senate-democratic-leader

• Newsweek: https://newsweek.com/chuck-schumer-chris-van-hollen-senate-majority-leader-challenge-12687780

Note: Details about personal allegations are as reported by the outlets above and are not independently confirmed. Facts current as of November 13, 2026.