SANTA CLARA, California- NVIDIA Director and Distinguished Scientist Edward Liu has paid an emotional tribute to Jensen Huang after the company’s co-founder resigned as president, chief executive and board member.
Describing the development as “a heartbreaking day,” Liu said Huang had been the leader he looked up to throughout his career at NVIDIA.
Liu said he joined the technology company as an intern in what became his first job and never left. He credited Huang with instilling lessons on first-principles thinking, mission-driven work and resilience in the pursuit of excellence.
“For my whole career, Jensen Huang has been the leader I looked up to,” Liu said.
“Thank you, Jensen. We’ll keep building on what you started.”
The tribute came after NVIDIA announced that Huang had resigned from all his roles at the company with immediate effect. The company did not state a reason for his departure in its official announcement.
Colette Kress appointed interim CEO
NVIDIA’s board appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim chief executive while it begins a search for Huang’s permanent successor.
Kress will continue serving as the company’s CFO during the transition, NVIDIA said. The board will consider both internal and external candidates for the top role.
The company also appointed longtime board member Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever chair of the board.
Jones said Kress had played a key role in NVIDIA’s growth and had a deep understanding of its business, operations, customers and financial position.
He said the board expected the company’s technology roadmap and customer commitments to continue without interruption.
Kress said NVIDIA would build on the foundation created by Huang and continue advancing its work in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence.
A defining figure in AI
Huang’s departure marks a major leadership transition for NVIDIA, which has grown from a graphics-chip company into one of the world’s most influential technology firms as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure surged.
Liu’s message reflected the personal impact Huang had on employees who worked under his leadership, portraying him as a demanding but deeply influential figure whose work ethic set the tone across the company.
NVIDIA said Huang’s contribution to the company and the wider technology industry was profound, adding that its leadership team would maintain focus on customers, partners, developers and shareholders as the CEO search gets underway.
The company is scheduled to report its third-quarter fiscal 2027 results on November 17.
