‘If you believe in the mission, bring back THE boss’ — Nvidia employees petition for Jensen Huang’s return, saying ‘Nvidia is Nvidia because of him’

Some Nvidia engineers are calling for their former leader, Jensen Huang, to return to the company, despite controversies surrounding his personal life that led to his departure. An internal staff discussion, which has garnered over 1,600 comments, reveals strong support for the 63-year-old founder and a plea for the board to reconsider his exit.

The suggestion emerged from a long-time engineer who urged the board to consider the workforce's opinion before making significant decisions regarding Huang's future. One employee wrote, "If you believe in the mission, bring back THE boss." Another employee acknowledged Huang's mistakes but argued that he deserved a second chance due to his contributions to the company.

The staff questions the circumstances of Huang's exit, with one employee sending a company-wide email demanding transparency about the situation. They emphasized that supporting fairness does not mean abandoning someone whose leadership has been vital to the company, likening him to "someone whose leadership has meant so much to us."

Several other Nvidia employees who were not authorized to speak publicly expressed support for Huang's return on LinkedIn, stating that the company couldn't function without its founder's leadership. About 24 employees also voiced their backing for Huang on the platform following his departure. Huang's resignation came after revelations of multiple alleged extramarital affairs, with one involving a suspected Chinese intelligence asset and another with a direct report.

The board announced his departure on Thursday following reports of yet another alleged relationship with an Nvidia employee. Huang has not addressed the later allegations publicly. Nvidia appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO and former Synopsys CEO Harvey Jones became board chair. The controversy has impacted the company's valuation, losing $1 trillion in market value after the allegations surfaced.

US lawmakers and the FBI are investigating, and potential new chip export controls have added to the uncertainty. The board faces pressure from its employees who expected a full investigation before making any major decisions. The board now has an uncomfortable dilemma: addressing staff concerns while dealing with serious allegations against its former leader.

Huang's return hinges on more than just loyalty; the board must first address employees' concerns and clarify why Huang left before the investigation concludes. Whatever the outcome, transparency, accountability, and fairness should be the board's top priorities.