Nvidia has appointed Colette Kress as interim Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of its co-founder and long-serving CEO Jensen Huang, marking a significant leadership transition at the American semiconductor and artificial intelligence technology company.
The announcement, made on 12 November 2026, confirmed that Huang had resigned as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of Nvidia’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Kress, who has served as Nvidia’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since September 2013, will assume the interim leadership position while retaining her existing financial responsibilities.
The company’s Board of Directors has initiated a search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer and will consider both internal and external candidates.
Kress brings extensive financial leadership experience to the position, having spent more than three decades working across major technology companies. Before joining Nvidia, she held senior finance positions at Microsoft, Cisco and Texas Instruments.
Since joining Nvidia in 2013, Kress has played a central role in the company’s financial strategy, capital management and expansion. Her tenure has coincided with Nvidia’s transformation from a graphics processing technology company into a dominant supplier of computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
As Chief Financial Officer, she has overseen the company’s financial operations during a period of substantial revenue growth, driven by demand for accelerated computing, data centre infrastructure and advanced AI processors.
Her appointment places her in charge of a company that has become central to the global development of artificial intelligence, with its technology supporting major cloud computing providers, research institutions and businesses developing advanced AI systems.
Commenting on her appointment, Kress 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.”
She added:
“We will continue advancing the work that has made NVIDIA a leader in accelerated computing and AI, and execute on the opportunities ahead. Our focus remains on serving our customers, partners, developers and shareholders.”
The leadership change follows reports concerning Huang’s personal relationships, including allegations that raised questions about potential national security implications. Huang had acknowledged an extramarital relationship before his departure. Nvidia’s official announcement confirmed his resignation without detailing the circumstances behind the decision.
Alongside Kress’s appointment, Nvidia named Harvey C. Jones as its first Chair of the Board of Directors.
Jones, a technology executive and venture investor with more than three decades of experience, has previously served in leadership positions at Synopsys.
Welcoming Kress’s appointment, Jones highlighted her understanding of Nvidia’s business and her contribution to the company’s development.
He said:
“Colette has helped lead NVIDIA through a period of extraordinary growth and has a deep understanding of our business, customers, operations and financial position.”
The board expressed confidence in Kress and the wider leadership team, stating that the company expects its operations, customer commitments and technology roadmap to continue without interruption.
Kress holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business.
Her appointment comes at a crucial time for Nvidia as the company prepares to report its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results on 17 November 2026.
The transition also represents a notable milestone for women in technology leadership, with Kress assuming responsibility for one of the world’s most influential semiconductor and AI companies during a period of substantial industry transformation.
As Nvidia begins its search for a permanent successor to Huang, Kress will be responsible for maintaining operational continuity, overseeing financial performance and guiding the company’s leadership team through the transition.
