NVIDIA announced Huang’s immediate resignation as CEO, president, and board member, naming CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO and appointing Harvey C. Jones as the first board chair. The move followed an internal probe into foreign intelligence risks and affair reports involving Alice Huang, linked to a firm buying NVIDIA chips, and Kimberly Powell, NVIDIA’s healthcare VP. Shares dropped sharply, extending a 35% slide, as online reactions mixed memes, Elon Musk’s quip about hiring Huang, and worries over losing the AI leader’s expertise. The board now seeks a permanent successor to sustain NVIDIA’s AI dominance.
Colette Kress, Nvidia’s longtime chief financial officer, has taken charge of the AI-chip giant as interim CEO following Jensen Huang’s departure on November 12, 2026. Her appointment places a veteran technology finance executive at the centre of a major leadership transition at a company driving the global artificial intelligence boom.
Kress joined Nvidia in September 2013 and has served as its CFO for more than 13 years. She has regularly appeared alongside Huang during quarterly earnings calls, helping communicate the company’s financial performance and growth strategy.
Colette Kress’s Career Before Nvidia
Before joining Nvidia, Kress built nearly 25 years of experience in finance and technology.
- Texas Instruments: Spent eight years in finance-related positions.
- Microsoft (1997–2010): Held several senior finance roles and became CFO of its Server and Tools division in 2006.
- Cisco (2010–2013): Served as senior vice president and CFO of the Business Technology and Operations Finance organisation.
- Nvidia (2013–present): Joined as executive vice president and CFO before becoming interim CEO.
Her experience across major technology companies gave her exposure to enterprise software, semiconductor businesses and large-scale technology operations.
Education and Nvidia’s Growth Under Her Leadership
Kress holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Her tenure at Nvidia has coincided with an extraordinary expansion driven by demand for graphics processing units (GPUs), AI infrastructure and data-centre computing.
According to Reuters, Nvidia’s annual revenue increased from $4.13 billion in fiscal 2013, the year she joined, to $215.9 billion in fiscal 2026.
Her financial leadership has therefore spanned Nvidia’s transformation from a major graphics-chip manufacturer into a central supplier for the global AI industry.
How Wealthy Is Colette Kress?
Kress has accumulated substantial wealth through her Nvidia compensation, including stock-based awards.
Forbes ranked her No. 32 on its 2026 list of America’s richest self-made women. Her Nvidia shares were valued at approximately $750 million at Wednesday’s market close, according to Reuters.
What Challenges Does She Face as Interim CEO?
Kress takes charge during a sensitive period for Nvidia. The company must maintain investor confidence, manage its AI-chip roadmap and preserve relationships with major customers, suppliers and technology partners.
Her immediate challenge is ensuring business continuity while the board considers candidates for a permanent CEO.
Nvidia’s future leadership will matter far beyond the company itself. Its processors underpin a substantial part of the global AI infrastructure, making the transition closely watched by technology companies, investors and governments.
