Nvidia’s leadership crisis expanded Thursday after Reuters reported that Jensen Huang had an intimate relationship with a second company employee, citing two people familiar with the matter. The woman was not identified. Nvidia declined comment, and Reuters could not reach her.
That makes three women linked to Huang in reporting: former Megaspeed executive Alice Huang, Nvidia healthcare executive Kimberly Powell, and the newly reported employee. The New York Times reported the Powell relationship Wednesday. Huang’s November 8 admission of an affair did not name the woman involved.
House committee chairs have requested closed-door, transcribed interviews with Huang on December 1 and Nvidia general counsel Tim Teter on December 2, Reuters reported. The chairs threatened subpoenas if the men do not cooperate. Those are requested interview dates, not confirmed appearances.
The China investigation
Attorney General Todd Blanche said Thursday that the FBI is investigating allegations concerning Alice Huang, but the Justice Department has not concluded that she was a Chinese spy. Beijing has rejected the allegations, accusing Washington of using them to justify technology restrictions.
Singapore separately disclosed that Alice Huang left the country in February and was barred from returning after investigators said she knowingly supplied inaccurate information about her role at Megaspeed. Authorities found insufficient evidence to establish offences in the underlying server-declaration investigation; their inquiry did not concern espionage. Investigations into Megaspeed and six other individuals continue. Bloomberg reports she is now in Beijing, citing people familiar with the matter.
Stocks, Musk and the succession question
Nvidia shares closed Thursday at $166.19, down 4.34%, recovering some of their earlier losses. The company has named CFO Colette Kress interim CEO while it searches for a permanent successor.
Tim Cook had already been floated as a possible successor by Yale leadership expert Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, as Hallman Brief reported Wednesday. Trump publicly endorsed Cook Thursday, but Nvidia has not announced a permanent replacement. Separately, Musk responded “That would be an honor” to a suggestion that he hire Huang. No hiring agreement has been announced.
The fallout is also reaching Washington: Reuters reports that senior White House officials are discussing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s future amid criticism of chip-export oversight. A White House official said Trump retains confidence in him. No departure has been announced.