Nvidia's board appointed Colette Kress as interim CEO on Thursday following the ouster of CEO Jensen Huang amid reports of alleged extramarital affairs, including one involving a woman reportedly accused of being a Chinese spy [1]. This major leadership shakeup places one of the most powerful women in tech at the helm of the company whose chips and computing systems have become central to the artificial intelligence boom [1].
Kress, 59, brings extensive experience to the role, having served as Nvidia's chief financial officer and executive vice president for 13 years [1]. She ranks No. 32 on Forbes' list of America's richest self-made women with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion [1]. As of Wednesday, her Nvidia shares were valued at roughly $750 million following a stock decline in the wake of the leadership shakeup [1]. Before joining Nvidia in 2013, Kress spent nearly 25 years in various finance roles at major technology companies, including Texas Instruments, Microsoft, and Cisco [1].
Under Kress's financial leadership, Nvidia experienced remarkable growth, with revenue expanding from $4.13 billion in the fiscal year she joined the company to $215.9 billion in fiscal 2026 [1]. Kress has previously articulated her vision for the company's evolution, noting that a decade ago few investors understood Nvidia's long-term vision, but today the company and its capabilities in graphics processors for artificial intelligence are widely recognized [1]. Her appointment represents continuity in financial stewardship during a period of significant organizational transition at the AI computing leader.
CONCLUSION
Nvidia's appointment of Colette Kress as interim CEO represents a significant leadership transition driven by Jensen Huang's ouster amid personal conduct allegations. Kress's 13-year tenure as CFO and her track record overseeing the company's growth from $4.13 billion to $215.9 billion in revenue position her to maintain operational stability, though the stock decline following the announcement reflects market uncertainty about the leadership change.