Colette Kress becomes Nvidia interim CEO after Jensen Huang resigns

Nvidia Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has assumed the interim CEO role following Jensen Huang's resignation amid allegations involving a suspected Chinese spy. Nvidia is seeking a permanent successor. Kress has managed Nvidia's finances for 13 years.

Cryptocurrency miners purchased large quantities of gaming GPUs during the 2017 boom. The SEC imposed a $5.5 million fine on Nvidia in 2022 because Nvidia failed to disclose how mining contributed to revenue growth. Shareholders separately accused Kress of misleading investors about mining demand. An appeals court in 2023 found adequate grounds to allege that Kress's statements misled investors. However, the court upheld the dismissal of claims against Kress because the allegations did not sufficiently establish knowing or reckless misconduct. The case against Nvidia and Huang proceeded, and investors obtained class certification in March 2026.

Kress led finance for Microsoft's Server and Tools division between 2006 and 2010. The division increased revenue from $11.2 billion in fiscal 2007 to $14.9 billion in fiscal 2010. Microsoft introduced Azure during Kress's tenure, although Kress alone cannot be credited with the division's growth.

The advocacy organization 1792 Exchange lists $1,600 in Republican political donations attributed to Kress and no donations to Democrats. The organization supplies no dates or supporting donation records. The amount has not been independently verified, and the attribution does not establish Kress's party membership.

A shareholder lawsuit filed in July 2026 accused Kress and other Nvidia executives of permitting unauthorized use of copyrighted books, videos and voices for AI development. The accusations remain allegations, and no finding of personal wrongdoing has been established.

Delaware Supreme Court records show that Kress received $7.7 million from selling 36,333 Nvidia shares through a trading plan between October 2017 and September 2018. Shareholders challenged insider share sales during the period covered by the disputed cryptocurrency disclosures. The litigation alleged combined insider sales totaling $147 million.