If Jensen Huang goes, who could replace him? Here’s who the board might pick if the Nvidia CEO is ousted in the wake of affair scandals

If Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang were to resign due to his alleged affairs, the company's board would need to appoint a new CEO swiftly. Given Nvidia's dominant position in the AI industry, finding a suitable replacement quickly would be crucial to maintain investor confidence and ensure smooth operations. The board would likely consider internal candidates first, as they would have a deep understanding of the company's operations and culture.

Nvidia's CFO, Colette Kress, is a strong contender for the interim CEO position. As the public face of the company, she is well-versed in Nvidia's financial performance and would provide stability during the transition. Jeff Fisher, the SVP of the GeForce business unit, could also be a viable option, given his public profile and deep understanding of the gaming market.

However, Kress's financial expertise would likely make her the safer choice for investors concerned about the impact of Huang's controversies on Nvidia's long-term prospects.

Other internal candidates like Michael Kagan, the CTO, or Chris Malachowsky, the founder, could also be considered. Michael Kagan, in particular, might be a good fit as a co-interim CEO alongside Kress, bringing both leadership experience and technical expertise to the role. Kagan, a former Intel engineer, could bring valuable industry connections and knowledge to Nvidia.

External candidates, such as Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, or Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, might also be considered. Su, with her background in GPU and AI engineering, as well as her public trust and goodwill, could bring valuable insights to Nvidia. Musk, while an unusual choice, could bring significant attention and resources to the company, given his own high profile and influence in the tech industry.

Ultimately, the board's decision would depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of Huang's alleged actions, the potential impact on Nvidia's operations and reputation, and the availability and suitability of internal and external candidates. The new CEO would need to be able to navigate the complex and politically charged world of tech leadership, all while ensuring the company continues to thrive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.