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Jensen Huang's third affair revealed after Nvidia exit; latest involves another employee: Report

Synopsis

Ousted Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had an intimate relationship with a second employee, Reuters reported, days after his resignation following revelations of two other extramarital affairs. The disclosures triggered a board investigation into possible foreign intelligence involvement, while Nvidia appointed finance chief Colette Kress interim CEO. Its shares fell 5.5% Thursday.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.Reuters
Former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with a second employee has come to light following his resignation, adding to the controversy surrounding his departure and a board probe into possible foreign intelligence involvement.
Former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had an intimate relationship with a second employee at the chipmaker, taking the number of reported extramarital affairs involving the 63-year-old married executive to three, according to sources known to Reuters.

The latest revelation follows reports of his relationships with Alice Huang, whom US intelligence suspects of being a Chinese spy, and Kimberly Powell, Nvidia's vice president of health care. The two earlier revelations preceded his resignation from the company on Thursday.

Also read: The man in the leather jacket is gone, but new risk haunts AI firms


Reuters is not naming the second employee, and attempts to reach the woman were unsuccessful, the report said.

Nvidia declined to comment. Powell, Jensen Huang and a representative for Nvidia's board did not respond to requests for comment. Alice Huang could not be reached for comment.

Jensen Huang admitted to having an affair in a November 8 statement following reports of his relationship with Alice Huang, without referring to her by name.

Also read: Jensen Huang quits as Nvidia CEO, putting $4 trillion empire in transition

Nvidia board launches probe as leadership crisis deepens

The former CEO's departure could disrupt the artificial intelligence industry that he helped shape. Nvidia has leveraged its financial strength to build an ecosystem around its AI chips through complex financial arrangements that make it easier for companies to purchase them.

The company has backed cloud computing firms and AI labs as part of this strategy.

Pressure on Huang to resign mounted after reports of his relationship with Alice Huang, followed by the disclosure of his alleged affair with Powell.

Earlier this month, Nvidia's board launched an investigation, led by independent directors and supported by outside legal counsel, into whether Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The board had also expressed confidence in him at the time.

Nvidia's board has appointed finance chief Colette Kress as interim CEO while it searches for a permanent replacement. It is considering both internal and external candidates for the position.

Nvidia shares fall 5.5%, lose over 30% since October peak

Huang's exit comes at a turbulent time for the chipmaker, whose stock has come under pressure following the disclosures surrounding its former chief executive.

Nvidia shares fell 5.5% in active trading on Thursday. The stock has lost more than 30% of its value since hitting an early October peak.


(With inputs from Reuters)

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