Nvidia staff wait 6 days for an all-hands after Jensen Huang’s exit. PR experts warn employees need answers sooner

On Thursday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stepped down from his position, effective immediately, after confessing to an extramarital affair with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy. Huang also had an affair with Nvidia vice president Kimberly Powell, though the company and Powell have not addressed the report publicly. CFO Colette Kress, who has been with the company since 2013, was appointed interim CEO and made the announcement.

She scheduled the first all-hands meeting for November 18, six days after the announcement. Several PR professionals have criticized the timing, arguing that employees need answers sooner. Kress takes over a company whose market value once topped $5 trillion, but has since dropped below $4 trillion following the news. Nvidia could face multiple investigations, including an antitrust probe and two inquiries into Megaspeed and Supermicro.

Some employees expressed shock and disappointment publicly, defending Huang's leadership. Despite the backlash, prominent figures like Bill Ackman and Elon Musk defended Huang, stating that mistakes don't make a right.