Nvidia’s board is reportedly preparing to remove co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang following revelations of two alleged extramarital affairs, including one involving a woman suspected by US intelligence of having links to Chinese espionage.
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The board could meet as soon as Wednesday (November 11) to determine Huang’s future at the chipmaker, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The developments come amid an independent investigation into whether Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation and whether the relationship raised potential national security concerns.
The controversy escalated on Wednesday after The New York Times reported that Huang had also allegedly been involved in a relationship with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice-president of healthcare, who reports directly to him.
According to the report, which cited five people who previously worked at the company, Huang and Powell were seen being affectionate at a hotel in San Jose, California, during a company conference in March. The report also referred to video evidence of their interaction. Neither Huang nor Powell has publicly confirmed the reported relationship.
The latest allegations follow reports of Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, a senior executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed. The two were reportedly photographed together in Taipei in 2024 and 2025.
US intelligence agencies are said to have circulated a memo alleging that Alice Huang was an asset of China's Ministry of State Security. The allegations have raised concerns about potential foreign intelligence access to Nvidia's business and sensitive information. Beijing has rejected the spying allegations.
On November 8, Jensen Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in an apology to Nvidia employees, following reports of his relationship with Alice Huang.
"I owe my family and all of you an apology," he wrote. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry."
Nvidia's board subsequently announced an independent investigation into reports that its founder and CEO had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. A committee of independent directors, supported by external legal counsel, will oversee the inquiry.
In its November 8 statement, the board said it had no reason to believe that national security or Nvidia's confidential information had been compromised. It also expressed confidence in Huang and his leadership team. Huang has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The controversy has also attracted scrutiny from US lawmakers. President Donald Trump said the FBI was investigating the matter and indicated that Huang had told him he was unaware of the woman's alleged links to Chinese intelligence.
Congressional committees have also sought a closed-door briefing from the Nvidia chief about his interactions with Alice Huang.
Meanwhile, Nvidia is facing growing investor concerns over the leadership uncertainty. Its shares fell around 8% in after-hours trading on November 11 following reports of the board's plans to consider Huang's removal. The company's market value has lost hundreds of billions of dollars since the controversy emerged.
Huang, co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has led the company throughout its transformation into one of the world's most valuable technology businesses. Its graphics processing units (GPUs) have become central to the development and deployment of artificial intelligence, placing the company at the heart of the global AI race.
His potential departure would therefore represent a significant leadership transition for Nvidia, particularly as the company navigates intensifying competition, geopolitical tensions over advanced semiconductor exports and growing scrutiny of its role in the AI ecosystem.
The board's reported consideration of his removal also raises questions about succession planning at a company whose growth and global influence have been closely associated with its founder.