Nvidia chief financial officer Colette Kress has emerged as a possible interim chief executive as the chipmaker’s board weighs the future of Jensen Huang, according to reports.
Semafor reported that some directors favour Colette Kress if Huang is removed, while Bloomberg said the company was working with an outside firm to identify potential successors. Nvidia has announced neither a departure nor an appointment.
The uncertainty follows an independent investigation into reports that Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.
Who is Colette Kress?
Kress, 58, has been Nvidia’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer since September 2013. She joined long before artificial intelligence turned the company’s graphics-chip business into one of the most valuable technology enterprises.
Previously, she spent three years at Cisco overseeing financial strategy, planning, reporting and business development.
Before that came 13 years at Microsoft, including four as finance chief of its Server and Tools division, and eight years at Texas Instruments.
She holds a finance degree from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Her role extends beyond preparing accounts. Kress presents Nvidia’s earnings and discusses demand, margins and investment plans with Wall Street analysts. That visibility could be valuable during a sudden leadership transition.
Jay Aldebert, an executive at International Services Inc., told Newsweek on Tuesday that Nvidia should avoid searching for another founder-like personality.
He argued that responsibilities should instead be shared across a stronger leadership team, reducing dependence on any single executive.
Nvidia interim CEO: Why Colette Kress appeals to some directors
The board’s deliberations remain unresolved. Semafor said some directors supported naming Kress interim CEO and reported that the White House had been briefed about the board meeting. Neither development was announced by Nvidia.
Reuters reported that directors were considering Huang’s position, following allegations concerning his personal relationships. Nvidia opened an investigation on Sunday and later appointed outside legal advisers to conduct the review.
The company has said it has no reason to believe national security or corporate secrets were compromised. Huang has supported the inquiry, and there has been no confirmed finding of wrongdoing.
Colette Kress offers an obvious continuity advantage. As finance chief, she understands Nvidia’s investment priorities, financial position and relationships with shareholders.
Shawn Cole, president of Cowen Partners, told CFO Dive on Tuesday that naming Colette Kress interim CEO or co-CEO could have “a stabilizing impact on the business”.
Nvidia CEO succession: Can a finance veteran replace Jensen Huang?
The difficulty is the breadth of Huang’s responsibilities. Since co-founding Nvidia in 1993, he has shaped its product strategy, software ecosystem and relationships with major cloud customers.
Nvidia reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $96.2 billion, including $89 billion from its Data Center business. Maintaining that momentum requires more than disciplined financial management.
“Losing Jensen would be a real blow,” Armina Rosenberg of Minotaur Capital told Reuters on Wednesday.
She regarded Colette Kress as a natural interim choice but questioned who would guide Nvidia’s technology roadmap over the longer term.
Chris Weston of Pepperstone likewise warned on Thursday that replacing Huang could create execution risks around product development and customer commitments.
Nvidia stock fell more than 8% in Wednesday’s extended trading after reports about Huang’s future, highlighting investors’ concern over succession.
AI disclosure: AI tools assisted with research and drafting of this piece. An Invezz editor reviewed the facts, sources and wording before publication. Any opinions or analysis are Invezz’s, not those of an automated system.
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