Semiconductor Industry Jitters Over Vacancy Behind Jensen Huang

Jensen Huang of NVIDIA is stepping down. On Tuesday (local time), NVIDIA accepted Huang's resignation as CEO and board member and appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO. The decision was formally announced through a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Huang co-founded NVIDIA in 1993 and has served as CEO for 33 years. He has openly stated that he does not believe in conventional succession processes, leaving no designated successor.

David Yoffie, a professor at Harvard Business School, analyzed that "Huang was not only essential in terms of core underlying technology but also served as the funding lifeline of the AI industry." NVIDIA has invested heavily in AI startups with its vast cash reserves, while those companies, in turn, buy NVIDIA chips. Industry observers expect the leadership vacuum to put the brakes on this circular investment structure.

Huang's daughter, son-in-law, and son all work at NVIDIA.