Nvidia’s board formally began its search for a new leader on Thursday (12 November), after co-founder Jensen Huang resigned over revelations of multiple extramarital affairs.
On prediction market platform Polymarket, Ian Buck, Nvidia’s vice-president responsible for its hyperscale data centre business, is currently the favourite. Interim chief Colette Kress ranks second, while former Apple chief executive Tim Cook is fourth in the betting.
Colette Kress: Nvidia chief financial officer
Kress, a veteran executive, was appointed interim CEO on Thursday. Analysts and investors widely regard her extensive management experience, standing within the company and strong ties to Wall Street as making her an ideal candidate to steer Nvidia through the current crisis.
Kress has served as Nvidia’s chief financial officer since 2013. Before that, she built extensive industry experience at major technology companies including Microsoft, Cisco and chip giant Texas Instruments.
Ian Buck: Nvidia vice-president of hyperscale and high-performance computing
Buck joined Nvidia in 2004 and helped lead the development of its CUDA software platform. This foundational technology gave graphics processing units (GPUs) general-purpose computing capabilities, helping transform Nvidia from a gaming graphics card maker into the world’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) hardware company. As one of the key executives steering its AI hardware and software businesses, he also works closely with its biggest customers.
Rene Haas: Chief executive of UK chip designer Arm
Haas spent seven formative years at Nvidia, rising to vice-president and general manager of its computing products business before joining Arm in 2013. After becoming Arm’s chief executive in 2022, he led the UK chip design giant to a Nasdaq listing the following year.
His responsibilities expanded further in April this year, when he took charge of parent company SoftBank Group’s international business and joined its board.
Pat Gelsinger: Former Intel chief executive
Gelsinger spearheaded an ambitious revival plan at Intel, but left in 2024 after less than four years at the helm as the turnaround failed to deliver a substantive breakthrough. Even so, he remains one of the few leaders worldwide with a deep understanding of chip companies’ operations across the entire value chain.
Intel’s business spans chip design and manufacturing, giving him extensive experience in both. That combination would be a clear advantage at Nvidia, which does not manufacture chips itself but relies heavily on close collaboration with chip foundries.
Lisa Su: AMD chief executive
Su leads AMD, one of Nvidia’s strongest competitors. If she were to succeed Huang, it would not only deal a heavy blow to AMD but also send shockwaves through the semiconductor industry.
Adding to the intrigue, both she and Huang were born in Taiwan and have publicly confirmed that they are distant relatives.
Sanjay Mehrotra: Micron Technology chief executive
Mehrotra, who leads memory chip giant Micron Technology, has more than 40 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. With Micron’s products used extensively in Nvidia’s supply chain, he has also maintained a close, long-standing strategic partnership with the company.
Matt Murphy: Marvell Technology chief executive
Murphy, CEO of custom chipmaker Marvell Technology, has risen to prominence during the AI infrastructure boom of recent years. He plays a delicate dual role in the AI ecosystem: working closely with Nvidia while also helping major cloud computing companies develop custom chips to reduce their heavy reliance on Nvidia processors.
Johny Srouji: Apple senior vice-president of hardware technologies
Srouji oversees all hardware engineering at Apple, the only company in the world with a market capitalisation higher than Nvidia’s. His remit covers core components including microchips, cellular modems, displays, cameras and batteries. He currently reports to John Ternus, who succeeded Cook as Apple CEO in September this year.
Tim Cook: Former Apple chief executive
Cook took the helm of Apple with a steady hand after co-founder Steve Jobs died in 2011. Over his 15 years leading the technology giant, he oversaw a surge in its market capitalisation from US$350 billion to a remarkable US$4.5 trillion. Apple remains the only company in the world worth more than Nvidia.
US President Donald J. Trump said in a social media post on Thursday that only Tim Cook could fill Jensen Huang’s role, describing it as “a legend succeeding a legend”.
Jensen Huang’s children and family members
Daughter Madison Huang: Currently Nvidia’s senior director of product marketing, she is seen by some analysts as a potential successor. Before joining Nvidia, she spent years working in marketing at French luxury giant LVMH.
Son-in-law Nico Caprez: A former professional alpine skier, he joined Nvidia after being introduced to the company by his wife, Madison. According to technology publication The Information, a number of employees already regard the couple as a potential future leadership duo at Nvidia.
Son Spencer Huang: Currently director of product management in Nvidia’s robotics division, he is directly involved in shaping the company’s cutting-edge embodied AI and robotics businesses.
