Jensen Huang has resigned as president, chief executive and board member of Nvidia with immediate effect, the company confirmed on Thursday afternoon (November 12). The move follows claims that he had an affair with a Chinese spy.
Huang had led the $1 trillion company for 33 years, during which it became one of the most influential players in the artificial intelligence boom. His departure comes amid what the company described as “significant national security concerns”.
Congressional summons and security briefing
Huang had been summoned to appear before the US Congress over the allegations. A confidential briefing is being sought on Capitol Hill from the chief executive on the tech giant’s security protocols “against foreign adversary espionage”.
The company has launched an investigation after reports that Huang had a relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who allegedly passed information to Beijing.
Market reaction and UK presence
Nvidia’s shares plunged 8% as Wall Street opened, wiping hundreds of billions of dollars off its value, before recovering slightly.
The firm operates a number of offices in the UK, including in Belfast, Bristol, and Reading.
