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NVIDIA\u2019s chief executive officer Jensen Huang has admitted to being unfaithful to his wife, adding a personal dimension to reports that he may have been targeted by Chinese intelligence.<\/p>\n
In a message to NVIDIA employees on Sunday (8 Nov), Jensen apologised to his family and colleagues, saying his actions had hurt his wife and children and that \u201cthere is no excuse for what I did\u201d. You can read the full message here. He also said he took full responsibility and would work to regain their trust. Jensen did not identify the woman involved, but reports from The Straits Times have linked the affair to Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman and former executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed. The two are not related.<\/p>\n
US officials reportedly believe Alice Huang was recruited by China\u2019s Ministry of State Security to gather information on Jensen and potentially influence NVIDIA\u2019s efforts to sell advanced AI chips to China. Those claims have not been publicly substantiated, and Beijing has denied that China sought to ensnare him. Megaspeed, an NVIDIA customer, has also faced scrutiny over suspicions that it helped Chinese companies obtain advanced chips restricted from export to China. Singapore has said police investigations into Megaspeed are ongoing, while rejecting claims that the Government separately investigated Alice Huang or raised concerns about her alleged intelligence links.<\/p>\n
Jensen\u2019s troubles are only just beginning<\/b><\/p>\n
NVIDIA\u2019s board has appointed a committee of independent directors, assisted by outside counsel, to oversee an investigation into whether Jensen was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The company said it had no reason to believe that US national security or NVIDIA\u2019s secrets had been compromised, but that the inquiry would examine all available information. Jensen supports the review and has pledged to co-operate. The board has also expressed confidence in him and his leadership team.<\/p>\n
Investors were less reassured by the uncertainty. NVIDIA shares fell about 5% at the US market\u2019s opening on Monday, after the board announced its investigation. The drop followed earlier losses as the reports emerged, and reflected concern about the potential fallout for a company whose strategy and public profile are closely tied to Jensen.<\/p>\n
For now, NVIDIA says Jensen will continue as CEO. But the investigation could make his position harder to take for granted. Analysts have pointed to the risk of his departure if the board finds serious governance or security concerns, while others say he would be difficult to replace given his central role in NVIDIA\u2019s rise. There is no clear successor waiting in the wings, which makes the question of Jensen\u2019s continued involvement more than a matter of boardroom gossip.<\/p>\n
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