Jensen Huang’s resignation has left Nvidia facing the task of choosing a permanent leader. Possible successors being mentioned include Chris Malachowsky and Ian Buck from within the company, as well as technology industry figures including Tim Cook and Rene Haas.
For the company, a future without Huang at the helm is a scenario that until recently seemed difficult to imagine. Its co-founder stepped down following reports of extramarital relationships and allegations related to national security issues. Chief financial officer Colette Kress has taken over as interim head of the American chip giant.
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Huang led Nvidia for more than three decades, transforming it into a business that is now among the world’s most valuable companies. Finding a permanent replacement for him is now one of its main challenges.
Kress has more than 30 years of experience in technology and finance. Before joining Nvidia, she held senior leadership positions at Cisco and Microsoft. At Nvidia, she is also executive vice president in addition to her role as chief financial officer.
During her time at Nvidia, Kress has witnessed the company’s transformation from a maker of graphics processors for video games in the early 1990s into a major player in the global artificial intelligence industry. She has also played an important role in financial communications, appearing alongside Huang at every financial results presentation.
Among the potential internal candidates is Chris Malachowsky, who founded Nvidia with Jensen Huang and Curtis Priem. As one of the company’s longest-serving executives, he has made significant contributions to the development of the computing technology underpinning its products.
Also in this group is Ian Buck, who is responsible for Nvidia’s high-performance computing business. He was among the pioneers who expanded the use of graphics processors beyond video games, helping apply them to computing and artificial intelligence.
According to Charu Chanana, an investment strategist at Saxo Bank, Buck could help Nvidia maintain its technological edge. She says, however, that his ability to manage extensive commercial relationships and geopolitical challenges would be closely scrutinized.
Jensen Huang’s children also hold leadership positions at Nvidia. Their age and relatively limited experience, however, make them less likely candidates to take over immediately.
If the company chooses to look outside its own ranks, one name mentioned by analysts is Tim Cook. The former Apple chief executive is currently chair of its board.
Jun Bei Liu, founder and portfolio manager at Ten Cap, sees Cook as a possibility because of his experience managing global supply chains. She questions, however, whether he would agree to leave Apple to lead Nvidia.
Another external candidate is Rene Haas, chief executive of Arm Holdings, the British semiconductor design company. His experience leading a publicly traded company and his deep knowledge of the chip industry are part of his profile. Charu Chanana believes Haas would bring the necessary experience in the semiconductor sector, although Arm’s business model differs significantly from Nvidia’s.
The decision on a new leader goes beyond an organizational change: Nvidia needs someone who combines technical expertise, strategic vision and relationships with key partners in the global technology industry.
The announcement of Huang’s departure was followed by a sharp drop in Nvidia shares on the New York stock exchange. According to the report, they lost more than 13% at the market open, wiping more than $500 billion off the company’s market value. Several major investment institutions also lowered their forecasts for its shares.
The coming period will be decisive for Nvidia. Alongside ensuring continuity in leadership, it must reassure investors and partners that it can maintain its dominant position in the artificial intelligence market without the man who built and led it for more than 30 years.
