Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Admits Affair; Board Opens Probe
Nvidia's board has opened an independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang after he admitted an extramarital affair with a Chinese executive suspected of spying for Beijing. Huang remains in his post while the inquiry runs, and the company says its operations will continue without interruption.
Here is what to know about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: Nvidia's board has opened an independent investigation after Huang admitted to an extramarital affair with a Chinese executive suspected of spying for Beijing. He will remain chief executive while the investigation is pending.
Huang's admission
Huang acknowledged the affair in a company-wide letter. "I was unfaithful to my wife," he wrote. "My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry."
He also addressed staff, the board, partners and shareholders. "Leading NVIDIA is the privilege of my life," he wrote, adding that he had "fallen short of that responsibility" and would work to earn back their confidence.
The national security concern
The letter followed a newspaper report that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had drafted a memo to senior Trump administration officials. It warned that Huang was in a close relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen.
Alice Huang is an executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed. The company builds data centers in Southeast Asia and supplies computing power to the mainland Chinese giant Alibaba.
US officials fear Megaspeed may have served as a backdoor for funneling export-controlled Nvidia chips to Beijing, according to the report.
"Regarding the national security concerns raised in news reports, NVIDIA's Board of Directors has initiated an independent investigation," Huang wrote. He said he supports the inquiry and will cooperate fully.
Washington ties
Huang has acted as a close adviser to the Trump administration on artificial intelligence. He joined President Donald Trump on a trip to Beijing in May. Trump previously approved the sale of Nvidia chips to Chinese firms, despite a bipartisan push for tighter export controls.
The timing is awkward. A newly Democratic Congress is poised to press for stricter export controls on advanced chips like Nvidia's, and technology executives are bracing for a less friendly Washington.
Company response
A Nvidia spokesperson said the news would not derail the business. "Today's news will not slow NVIDIA," the spokesperson said. "Jensen is committed to continuing to lead NVIDIA as CEO without interruption."
Huang closed his letter with a pledge to the country as well as the company. "I love our country and our company," he wrote, adding that he is committed to supporting America's national security.
