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Jensen Huang resigns as Nvidia CEO, and Colette Kress is named interim chief

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Tim Cook is the person to replace Huang. Kress remains interim CEO while the board searches, and the company's 8-K says the board accepted the resignation on November 11.

By Marcus Rodriguez · Nov 12, 2026, 4:40 PM EST · Updated Nov 12, 2026, 6:31 PM EST

Why it matters: The leadership change comes days before Nvidia reports fiscal third-quarter results on November 17. Kress has told employees a company meeting will be held November 18.

For information only, not investment advice. Prices delayed.

Tickers: NVDA, AAPL

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that “there is only one man to take his place - TIM COOK of Apple. A Legend replaces a Legend!” He also said Huang “has done a fantastic job.”⁴ Kress remains interim CEO while the board searches, and Trump did not indicate whether Cook, Apple's executive chairman, had expressed interest in the job.⁵¹

Nvidia ($NVDA) said Thursday that Colette Kress, its executive vice president and chief financial officer, will serve as interim chief executive after Jensen Huang resigned as president, CEO and a member of the board, effective immediately.¹ The company's Form 8-K says the board accepted Huang's resignation on November 11, effective immediately.²

Kress has been Nvidia's finance chief since joining the company in September 2013. Before Nvidia, she spent nearly 25 years in finance roles at technology companies including Cisco and Microsoft.¹

The board also appointed Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever chair.¹ The 8-K says Jones, 73, was appointed chair on November 11; he has served on Nvidia's board since 1993 and has been managing partner of Square Wave Ventures since 2004.² The company's release says Jones previously served as chief executive officer and executive chairman of Synopsys.¹

“The Board has full confidence in Colette and the leadership team, and we expect the company’s operations, customer commitments and product roadmap to continue without interruption,” Jones said.¹

Kress said she is committed to building on the foundation Huang created over 33 years, working with Nvidia's employees and leadership team. “We will continue advancing the work that has made NVIDIA a leader in accelerated computing and AI, and execute on the opportunities ahead.” She added, “Our focus remains on serving our customers, partners, developers and shareholders.”¹

Nvidia's board and the company thanked Huang for his contributions to Nvidia and the technology industry.¹

CNBC obtained copies of employee emails from a source familiar with the matter, who said Jones sent the first email and Kress replied shortly after.³ Jones told employees that the board had asked Kress to serve as interim CEO while it considers internal and external candidates to replace Huang. He added, “I will serve as the first-ever Chair of the Board.”³

In a reply obtained by CNBC, Kress acknowledged an extraordinarily difficult period and thanked employees for their resilience, professionalism and dedication. Kress said employees would hear more from leadership in the coming days and that Nvidia would hold a company meeting on November 18 at 9 a.m. PT.³

Nvidia will report its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results on Tuesday, November 17, at approximately 1:20 p.m. PT, as previously scheduled, followed by an earnings call at 2 p.m. PT.¹

Tags: semiconductors · big-tech · ai · earnings · markets-moves · white-house