(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
ISTANBUL, Türkiye – Colette Kress, Nvidia’s longtime chief financial officer, has taken over as interim chief executive following the resignation of company co-founder Jensen Huang amid a controversy involving allegations of an extramarital relationship with a woman suspected by US officials of spying for China.
The appointment, announced Thursday, November 12, places Kress at the helm of the artificial intelligence chip giant after 13 years overseeing its finances.
Kress becomes the first woman to lead Nvidia and only the second person to serve as its chief executive since the company’s establishment in 1993.
She will retain her responsibilities as chief financial officer while serving as interim CEO until Nvidia’s board selects a permanent replacement.
The board has begun searching for Huang’s successor and will consider both internal and external candidates.
In a statement, Kress pledged to maintain the company’s momentum and build on the foundation established by Huang during his 33 years of leadership.
From finance executive to technology leader
Kress earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arizona and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Texas.
She began her professional career at Texas Instruments, where she spent eight years in financial management before joining Microsoft in 1997.
During her 13-year tenure at Microsoft, she held several senior finance and planning positions, including four years as chief financial officer of the company’s Server and Tools division.
In 2010, she moved to Cisco Systems as senior vice president and finance chief of its Business Technology and Operations Finance organization.
Nvidia appointed Kress executive vice president and chief financial officer in September 2013, following a two-year search for a finance chief.
At the time, Nvidia was primarily recognized for developing graphics processing units used in gaming computers.
Key figure in Nvidia’s AI expansion
During her tenure as CFO, Kress oversaw Nvidia’s financial strategy, reporting operations and investor relations as the company expanded into artificial intelligence, data centers and accelerated computing.
She became a prominent figure in Nvidia’s quarterly earnings presentations, explaining financial performance and growth prospects to investors as global demand for AI processors surged.
Her financial leadership coincided with Nvidia’s transformation into one of the world’s most valuable technology companies.
Fortune magazine ranked Kress 49th on its 2026 list of the most powerful women in business.
Her Nvidia stock holdings also helped make her a billionaire, placing her among a relatively small group of corporate finance executives to achieve that level of personal wealth.
Leadership transition amid controversy
Kress assumes leadership during a period of uncertainty following Huang’s departure.
The resignation followed reports concerning Huang’s alleged personal relationships, including one involving a businesswoman suspected by US authorities of espionage-related activities.
The allegations have raised questions about corporate governance and national security, although suspected espionage and any compromise of company information have not been established as proven facts.
Nvidia shares came under heavy selling pressure following news of the leadership change, reflecting investor concerns about the sudden departure of the executive who guided the company for more than three decades.
The company has sought to reassure customers, employees and shareholders that its operations and strategic priorities will continue without interruption.
Major test ahead
Kress faces an immediate challenge as Nvidia prepares to release its quarterly financial results on November 17.
Investors are expected to closely examine the company’s revenue performance, demand for AI chips, business prospects in China and progress in selecting a permanent chief executive.
The leadership transition also comes as Nvidia navigates growing scrutiny over advanced semiconductor exports and competition in the global artificial intelligence industry.
Nvidia’s board expressed confidence in Kress and the company’s existing management team, saying its operations, customer commitments and product development plans would remain on track.
For Kress, the appointment represents a significant shift from managing the finances of one of the world’s largest technology companies to overseeing its overall direction during a critical leadership transition.
