Washington D.C.: There is turmoil within the board of the American semiconductor company Nvidia regarding its co-founder and CEO, Jensen Huang. According to reports, the board is considering his removal following the disclosure of two alleged extramarital affairs. One of these involves a Chinese businesswoman whom U.S. intelligence agencies suspect of having ties to Chinese intelligence services.
According to The Wall Street Journal, individuals familiar with the matter indicated that Nvidia’s board may meet on Thursday. This meeting is expected to address Huang’s future at the company.
The revelations concerning the personal relationships of 63-year-old Jensen Huang have raised questions about his position, both inside and outside the company. These developments have also intensified discussions regarding the firm’s internal policies and potential business implications.
Alleged Affair with Healthcare Vice President Kimberly Powell
Meanwhile, The New York Times has reported that Huang allegedly had an extramarital affair with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s Vice President of Healthcare, who reports directly to him. Citing five former employees, the newspaper noted that this relationship had not previously been made public.
According to the report, during an Nvidia conference in March, Huang and 48-year-old Powell were allegedly captured on video behaving in an intimate manner at a hotel in San Jose, California.
Kimberly Powell joined Nvidia in 2008. According to the company’s website, she oversees initiatives involving the application of Nvidia’s chip technology in higher education and healthcare—specifically projects related to medical imaging equipment.
The emergence of this alleged affair has also raised questions regarding Nvidia’s workplace policies. The company’s code of conduct advises employees to avoid situations where their behavior could lead to a conflict of interest. This includes personal relationships.
According to The New York Times, the company states that it promptly investigates complaints regarding misconduct. The report also notes that many large corporations have restrictive policies concerning relationships between senior executives and the employees who report to them.
Relationship with a Chinese Businesswoman and a Board Investigation
These latest revelations regarding Huang come at a time when he is also facing scrutiny and questioning over an alleged relationship with a Chinese businesswoman, Alice Huang. Alice Huang is an executive and business figure associated with the Singapore-based data company Megaspeed—a firm that is among Nvidia’s key clients.
U.S. intelligence officials have reportedly identified this businesswoman as a suspected asset linked to a Chinese intelligence agency.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the relationship with Alice Huang is the same matter that Jensen Huang acknowledged in a letter to Nvidia employees on Sunday. Admitting to infidelity toward his wife, he stated that he had broken his family’s trust and offered an apology.
Following Huang’s admission, Nvidia’s board initiated an investigation into the matter. According to The New York Times, the task of conducting this investigation has been assigned to the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
The Wall Street Journal further reported that, in light of the revelations surrounding these alleged relationships—particularly the accusations of potential ties to a Chinese intelligence agency—the board is reviewing Huang’s position within the company.
Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993. Under his leadership, the company has become one of the world’s leading suppliers of artificial intelligence (AI) chips. Huang is considered one of the most influential figures in the global AI industry.