Nvidia Board Reportedly Eyes CFO for Interim CEO

Some Nvidia directors reportedly favor Colette Kress as interim chief executive, according to a Semafor report, though no leadership change has been announced.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Semiconductors

Nvidia Board Reportedly Eyes CFO for Interim CEO

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Some Nvidia board members reportedly favor CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO, according to Semafor. The company has not announced any leadership transition, and Jensen Huang has not been reported as stepping aside.

Why it matters

Nvidia has had only one CEO since its founding in 1993, so any move toward an interim successor would be a rare shift for a company with a market capitalization of roughly $4.5 trillion. The report reflects preferences held by some directors, not a decision by the full board.

Nvidia's leadership has been unchanged since its 1993 founding, with Jensen Huang as sole CEO for 33 years. Colette Kress has held the EVP and CFO post since September 2013, and no company statement on succession has been issued.

The players

Nvidia

Nvidia is a Santa Clara-based chipmaker known for graphics processors that power AI and data center computing, and it is among the most valuable publicly traded companies in the world.

Jensen Huang

Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has led the company as its only chief executive since then, becoming one of the most prominent figures in the semiconductor and AI industries.

Colette Kress

Colette Kress is Nvidia's executive vice president and chief financial officer, a post she has held since 2013, and she oversees the company's financial operations.

The details

Semafor reported that some Nvidia directors favor Colette Kress as interim CEO, a preference described as held by some board members rather than the full board. Nvidia has not announced any leadership transition, and no reporting indicates Jensen Huang is stepping aside.

September 2013: Colette Kress became Nvidia's executive vice president and chief financial officer.
1993: Nvidia was founded with Jensen Huang as its only chief executive.

Market Dynamics

The reported succession discussion comes as Nvidia holds a market capitalization near $4.5 trillion, placing its leadership decisions under heightened investor scrutiny in the AI chip sector. Any change at the top would be closely watched by competitors and the broader semiconductor market.

A leadership change at Nvidia could affect the company's product roadmap and the AI hardware that businesses and consumers rely on. For now, no change has been announced, and existing products and plans are unaffected by the report.

The takeaway

Leadership reports about major companies often precede formal announcements by weeks or months, so readers should watch for official filings or statements from Nvidia before drawing conclusions. Until then, the report should be treated as unconfirmed.