Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Apologizes to Staff; Board Opens Probe
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitted infidelity in an email to employees released November 8. The company's board has opened an independent investigation into reports he was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. President Donald Trump says the FBI is looking into the matter, and a shareholder has sued.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang apologized to employees for being unfaithful to his wife, in an email the chipmaker released on November 8, as its board opened an independent investigation into reports that he was the target of a foreign intelligence effort.
The email opened with the words: "I owe my family and all of you an apology." Huang then wrote: "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry."
A message to his family
The email also included a section for his wife and children. "I love you," Huang wrote, adding that he hoped the family would heal and that he could earn back their trust over time.
He said his family should not be blamed. "My family bears no responsibility for my choices. I do. Please give them privacy," he wrote.
Family ties run through the company. His daughter Madison Huang works in Nvidia's Omniverse division, and his son Spencer Huang is part of its robotics group. Madison's husband, Nico Caprez, also works at Nvidia and became a vice president in January.
Huang did not publicly explain why he addressed his family inside a company-wide message.
Board investigation
The apology followed reports that Huang had been in a relationship with Alice Huang, a former senior executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data center company. She is not related to him. US intelligence officials reportedly believe she was linked to Chinese intelligence.
Nvidia's board said a committee of independent directors, assisted by outside counsel, would oversee the inquiry. The board said it had no reason to believe national security or company secrets had been compromised, but would examine all available information.
Huang said in his email that he supported the investigation and would cooperate fully. He reaffirmed his commitment to Nvidia and to supporting US national security.
Government and shareholder reaction
President Donald Trump said the FBI was looking into the matter. He said Huang had told him he did not know the woman was allegedly involved in espionage.
A shareholder has also sued Nvidia and Huang. The suit accuses them of misleading investors over the alleged relationship and related national-security concerns. The claims are allegations and have not been tested in court.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Huang has increasingly handed responsibilities to the next generation of his family while staying hands-on in running Nvidia. The company has no clear second-in-command and no named successor, with Huang personally overseeing a large part of its operations.
The independent directors' investigation is under way, and the board has not said when it will report.
