Huang Considers a Return as Nvidia CEO, Financial Times Reports

The talks come days after Huang resigned as president, chief executive and a director, following reported affairs with a woman U.S. officials have linked to Chinese intelligence and with a subordinate.

One ally told the newspaper that a “war room” of Silicon Valley executives was being assembled to lobby Nvidia’s board for his reinstatement and to seek White House support.

“Everyone that matters in tech outside the frontier labs loves Jensen,” the person said, adding that the effort had Huang’s backing.

Allies Lobby Nvidia’s Board

Elon Musk, who said Friday that he would sign a petition to reinstate Huang, and Epic Games chief Tim Sweeney have backed a public letter asking the board to bring him back.

The letter, which says it is not endorsed by Nvidia or by Huang, asks directors to restore him while an independent inquiry continues.

On Friday, shareholders Brad Gerstner of Altimeter Capital and Gavin Baker of Atreides Management urged the board to keep “all options on the table, including the potential return of Jensen Huang.”

Spokespeople for Nvidia and for Huang declined to comment to the Financial Times. Huang does not hold a controlling stake and cannot overrule the board, the newspaper said.

One person involved in the campaign conceded, according to the FT, that “having an affair with a subordinate is a fireable offence.”

Bessent Calls for a Shakeup

The push faces resistance in Washington. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday called for a “dramatic shakeup” at Nvidia and said the board should look outside the company for its next chief executive.

Bessent also said he wanted answers “in the next 10 days from the board and from the outside counsel,” according to reports of his Sunday remarks.

Board Inquiry Remains Open

Nvidia’s board opened an independent investigation this month after reports that Huang had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The inquiry into his conduct has not finished, and Huang has said he is cooperating.

Huang admitted in a staff note that he had been “unfaithful” to his wife. The reported relationship with Alice Huang, a former Megaspeed executive who is not related to him, has not been publicly proven to involve espionage, and Beijing has rejected the allegation.

Kress Leads Ahead of Earnings

Colette Kress, Nvidia’s finance chief, is serving as interim CEO after the board accepted Huang’s resignation on Nov. 11. Quarterly results are due on Tuesday, the company’s first earnings since the change at the top.

The Financial Times reported Friday that the board had approached Arm chief executive René Haas as a potential successor. Nvidia has said it has not formally engaged candidates and is selecting a search firm.

Forbes later estimated that Kress, Jay Puri and Brooke Seawell had each dropped below billionaire status after the share decline, with net worths of about $900 million.