Nvidia board meets to consider Jensen Huang’s future, Reuters reports

Nvidia’s board was meeting late on Wednesday, 11 November, to decide whether to remove chief executive Jensen Huang, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Huang co-founded the chipmaker and has led it for more than three decades.

The Wall Street Journal had earlier reported that Nvidia was preparing to fire him, according to Reuters. The news agency said Nvidia shares fell more than 8% in US after-hours trading following that report. Nvidia did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the board meeting, and the agency did not report an outcome.

The meeting comes amid reports of two extramarital relationships involving Huang, Reuters said. The New York Times reported that one involved an Nvidia executive who reported to him; Reuters said it could not immediately verify that report. Huang has acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife.

On 8 November, Nvidia’s board expressed confidence in Huang and his leadership team while announcing an independent investigation into reports that he had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The board said it had no reason to believe US national security or Nvidia secrets had been compromised, but that the inquiry would examine the available information.

Two days later, the independent directors appointed lawyer Joon H. Kim and his firm, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, to conduct the investigation.