Colette Kress is Nvidia’s interim CEO after Jensen Huang resigned following 33 years leading the chipmaker. Nvidia has kept Kress in charge of finance, named Harvey C. Jones board chair and opened a search for Huang’s successor. The transition comes days before Nvidia’s November 17 quarterly earnings report.
Key Takeaways
- Nvidia announced Jensen Huang’s resignation as CEO, president and director on November 12, 2026
- Colette Kress remains chief financial officer while serving as interim CEO
- Harvey C. Jones became Nvidia’s first separate board chair
- The board will consider internal and external candidates for permanent CEO
- Third-quarter fiscal 2027 results remain scheduled for November 17
Nvidia appointed Colette Kress interim CEO following co-founder Jensen Huang’s immediate resignation, ending his 33-year tenure at the top of the company. The November 12 announcement also confirmed Huang’s departure from the board and the appointment of a separate chair.
A Securities and Exchange Commission filing places the board’s acceptance of Huang’s resignation on November 11. Neither the filing nor the company’s statement gave a reason for the departure or identified a permanent successor.
Nvidia, based in Santa Clara, California, supplies processors and computing systems used in artificial intelligence. Its leadership change comes as customers continue to rely on the company’s hardware and software platforms for large computing projects.
Colette Kress Interim CEO Role Adds to CFO Duties
Kress joined Nvidia in September 2013 and will continue as executive vice president and CFO while assuming chief executive responsibilities. The company has not named an acting finance chief or explained how Kress’s finance workload will be divided during the interim period.
Before Nvidia, Kress spent nearly 25 years in finance roles at technology businesses, including Cisco and Microsoft. She has led Nvidia’s finance organization and regularly communicated financial results to shareholders.
The combined role differs from FedEx’s scheduled CFO appointment, which named an incoming executive and a specific start date. At Nvidia, Kress retains the finance position alongside the temporary chief executive assignment.
In Nvidia’s November 12 statement, Kress emphasized serving customers, partners, developers and shareholders. She did not announce a new strategy, and the company did not revise its existing financial outlook or disclose changes to product plans.
Kress’s assignment continues until a permanent chief executive is appointed. Nvidia has not stated whether she is a candidate for that position, and its announcement did not establish a search deadline.
Nvidia Board Names Harvey Jones Chair and Opens CEO Search
The board appointed Harvey C. Jones as Nvidia’s first separate chair when it selected Kress. Jones has been a director since 1993 and managing partner of Square Wave Ventures since 2004, according to the SEC filing. He previously served as chief executive and executive chairman of Synopsys.
Jones said directors had confidence in Kress and the executive team, adding that “we expect the company’s operations, customer commitments and product roadmap to continue without interruption.” That was the board’s expectation, rather than a confirmation of operational results under the new management arrangement.
The company has opened its search to internal and external candidates. Nvidia has not identified a search committee or proposed a date for announcing a permanent successor.
Unlike Adobe’s planned CEO transition process, which identified its incoming chief executive ahead of the handover, Nvidia has disclosed an interim appointment without a designated replacement.
The board’s statement also left unanswered how long Kress may hold both positions and whether other executive appointments will follow. No additional management changes were specified in the filing.
November 17 Earnings Report Follows Leadership Change
Nvidia is scheduled to release third-quarter fiscal 2027 results on Tuesday, November 17, at approximately 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time. Its earnings call is set for 2 p.m. Pacific Time, and Nvidia said the schedule remains unchanged. The reporting quarter ended October 25.
An October 28 notice said Kress would provide written commentary on the results ahead of the call. The subsequent announcement did not identify the call’s speakers or change the planned reporting schedule.
Nvidia reported $96.2 billion in second-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue, up 106% year over year, in its August 26 release. Data center revenue reached $89.0 billion, an increase of 117%. Both figures reflect a reporting period before the leadership transition.
Second-quarter revenue increased 18% from the preceding quarter, while data center revenue also rose 18% sequentially. Nvidia reported gross margins of 75% for the period, providing additional financial context for the company’s performance before the executive changes.
At that time, Nvidia forecast third-quarter revenue of $108.0 billion, plus or minus 2%. The estimate was issued while Huang was CEO, and Nvidia did not provide updated guidance in its November 12 statement.
Shares closed 4.3% lower on November 12 after recovering from larger intraday declines. The price change coincided with the CEO announcement, although market movements cannot be attributed to one development without further evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nvidia’s interim CEO?
Colette Kress is Nvidia’s interim CEO following the November 12 announcement. She remains executive vice president and CFO while the board searches for a permanent successor.
Why did Jensen Huang resign from Nvidia?
Nvidia said Huang resigned as CEO, president and director, effective immediately. Its announcement and SEC filing did not give a reason for the departure.
Who chairs Nvidia’s board?
Harvey C. Jones is Nvidia’s first separate board chair. He has served as a director since 1993.
When is Nvidia’s next earnings announcement?
Nvidia plans to release third-quarter fiscal 2027 results on November 17 at approximately 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time. The earnings call is set for 2 p.m.
