Nvidia is facing growing corporate turmoil after fresh allegations emerged that its billionaire co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jensen Huang, had a second extramarital relationship, this time involving a senior executive at the artificial intelligence chipmaker.
The latest controversy centres on Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s 48-year-old Vice President of Healthcare, who reportedly had a relationship with Huang, 63, according to an investigation published by The New York Times.
The newspaper cited five people who had worked at Nvidia, saying the alleged relationship had been discussed within the company.
The report also claimed that Huang and Powell were seen displaying affection at a hotel in San Jose, California, during Nvidia’s annual developer conference in March. The newspaper said a bystander recorded the encounter, although it had not independently viewed the video.
Who Is Kimberly Powell?
Powell is one of Nvidia’s senior executives and oversees the company’s global healthcare business, including artificial intelligence, accelerated computing, medical imaging, life sciences and drug discovery.
She joined Nvidia in 2008 and rose through several leadership positions before becoming Vice President of Healthcare in 2017.
Her responsibilities have included expanding the company’s technology into healthcare and higher education, making her an important figure in Nvidia’s business operations.
The reported relationship has raised questions about the company’s workplace policies, particularly because Powell allegedly reported directly to Huang.
Nvidia’s code of conduct instructs employees to avoid situations that could create conflicts of interest, including those involving personal relationships.
Second Allegation Deepens Huang’s Personal Crisis
The latest report follows an earlier controversy involving Alice Huang, a technology executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed, with whom Jensen Huang reportedly had an extramarital relationship.
US intelligence officials have reportedly identified Alice Huang as an alleged Chinese intelligence asset, raising national security concerns because of her reported connections to the Nvidia chief.
Huang previously acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in a message to Nvidia employees, taking responsibility for his actions.
China has denied the espionage allegations involving Alice Huang.
Nvidia Board Reportedly Weighs CEO’s Future
The growing controversy has placed Huang’s leadership under intense scrutiny.
According to reports by The Wall Street Journal, Nvidia’s board was preparing to meet to consider his future at the company following the allegations.
The board had already announced an independent investigation into concerns surrounding Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang and the possibility that he had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.
Reuters reported that Nvidia shares fell approximately eight per cent in after-hours trading following the latest developments and reports of a possible leadership change.
Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while Kimberly Powell had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
A Crisis With Global Implications
Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and transformed it into a dominant force in the global artificial intelligence industry. Its processors are central to the development of advanced AI systems and data centres worldwide.
Any leadership change at the company could have significant implications for investors, technology companies and the global race for artificial intelligence dominance.
For now, the allegations remain under scrutiny, and no final decision on Huang’s position has been officially confirmed by Nvidia.
Sources: The New York Times report via The Business Times · Reuters · AFP · Axios
