Who are the likely candidates to replace Jensen Huang at Nvidia?
Jensen Huang has never anointed a successor, but many analysts and investors see Nvidia's uber-engineer Ian Buck and CFO Colette Kress as particularly likely candidates, at least for the short term.
On Wednesday, Nvidia's board met to discuss the possibility of ousting CEO Jensen Huang, who has been at the helm of the world's leading AI processor supplier amid reports of two extramarital affairs involving him. Huang, known for his charismatic leadership and pivotal role in transforming Nvidia from a video game processor company to an AI giant, has created the most valuable company in the world. The board meeting has sparked speculation about potential replacements for Huang.
Among the likely candidates are two of Huang's direct reports: CFO Colette Kress, who has been with the company for 13 years and fronts every earnings call alongside Huang, and Ian Buck, who has been with Nvidia since 2004 and played a key role in developing Nvidia's AI hardware and software products, including the CUDA software system.
Kress, who is 59, has been seen as the most straightforward choice for an interim CEO, while Buck, who is about 49, is considered the strongest long-term internal candidate due to his expertise in AI hardware and software.
Other names that have been mentioned as potential successors include a rival chip giant executive like Arm chief Rene Haas, and one of Huang's children, who are also executives at Nvidia. Some analysts believe that appointing Kress as interim CEO alongside a product and technology leader like Buck could be the most pragmatic solution, as finding a permanent replacement would take time.
The board's decision will likely focus on an engineer with deep technical knowledge, as Nvidia's success comes from its innovative technology rather than individual leadership.
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