TAIPEI, Taiwan | Jensen Huang, the billionaire co-founder of Nvidia who was once celebrated as a national success story and treated like a celebrity in his birthplace Taiwan, has resigned as the company’s president and chief executive officer following a personal scandal involving an extramarital affair with a Chinese businesswoman suspected by U.S. officials of having links to Chinese intelligence.
Nvidia announced on November 12 that Huang’s resignation, which also includes his departure from the company’s board of directors, took effect immediately. The company appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while its board searches for a permanent successor. Harvey C. Jones, a longtime board member, was also appointed as the company’s first-ever board chair.
Huang’s departure marks a dramatic fall for one of the most influential figures in the global technology industry. The scandal has not only unsettled investors but also damaged his once-strong public image in Taiwan, where he had enjoyed widespread admiration during regular business visits.
According to the Associated Press, shopkeepers in Taipei who previously displayed photographs of Huang visiting their establishments have expressed disappointment over the revelations. Some customers have reportedly suggested removing the photographs, reflecting a growing change in public sentiment toward the technology executive.
Jane Hsieh, a shopkeeper whose establishment had displayed Huang’s photograph, said she would still welcome him as a customer but acknowledged that her feelings toward him had changed. Another Taipei resident observed that Huang had fallen from public favor following the revelations about his personal conduct and the allegations involving corporate espionage.
Huang, 63, was born in Tainan, Taiwan, and moved to the United States as a child. He co-founded Nvidia in 1993 with Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, building the company into a global technology powerhouse whose graphics processing units have become essential to artificial intelligence development. His achievements had also strengthened Taiwan’s international reputation as a major player in the semiconductor industry.
The controversy centers on Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman reportedly associated with Singapore-based cloud computing company Megaspeed, which described itself as an Nvidia cloud partner. U.S. intelligence officials reportedly suspect that she was gathering information for Beijing, although the allegations have not been independently established. China has rejected the accusations as unsubstantiated.
Huang acknowledged having an extramarital affair and issued an apology to his wife and Nvidia in a statement published on November 8. He did not publicly identify the woman involved. The FBI is investigating whether he was targeted as part of a foreign intelligence operation.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously said he believed Huang had no knowledge of the woman’s alleged intelligence activities, describing the Nvidia founder as an honorable man who was going through a difficult situation.
The controversy deepened after reports emerged of another extramarital relationship involving an Nvidia employee. Reuters reported on November 12, citing people familiar with the matter, that Huang had also been involved with a second employee. The reports added to the pressure surrounding his leadership as the company’s board conducted an independent investigation into whether he had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.
Nvidia’s board had earlier announced that an independent committee, assisted by outside legal counsel, would examine the allegations. In its November 8 statement, the board said it had no reason to believe that national security or Nvidia’s proprietary information had been compromised, although the investigation would examine all available information.
Taiwanese authorities have also taken steps to examine Alice Huang’s activities on the island. The businesswoman reportedly entered Taiwan eight times in 2024 and 2025 using her status as a Hong Kong resident for business purposes. Taiwan’s Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang confirmed that her entry permit had been revoked, effectively barring her from returning.
In a November 12 briefing, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said it had not received information about a reported U.S. warning in 2024 concerning Alice Huang, although it could not determine whether other government agencies had received such intelligence. Authorities said the investigation involved coordination among relevant government agencies.
The fallout has extended beyond Huang’s personal reputation and Nvidia’s corporate leadership, reaching Taiwan’s financial markets. The island’s benchmark Taiex index plunged 1,165.28 points, or 2.63 percent, on November 12, closing at 43,091.87. Market analysts attributed the decline partly to concerns over Nvidia’s leadership turmoil and its potential impact on other artificial intelligence-related companies and semiconductor stocks.
The resignation also raises questions about Nvidia’s direction at a time when the company occupies a central position in the global artificial intelligence industry. Colette Kress will oversee the company on an interim basis while the board considers internal and external candidates for the permanent CEO position.
For Taiwan, Huang’s departure carries significance beyond the leadership change at a major American technology company. His rise from a Taiwanese-born immigrant to one of the world’s most influential business executives had made him a source of national pride. His visits to the island often attracted crowds, media attention and enthusiastic welcomes from ordinary residents and business owners.
That public admiration has now been seriously shaken. Even with his extraordinary contributions to the technology industry, the scandal has altered how some Taiwanese people view a figure once regarded as a symbol of national achievement. His resignation may end his tenure at Nvidia, but the controversy surrounding his personal relationships, the alleged intelligence connections and the damage to his public standing continues to cast a shadow over his legacy.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
