On a Wednesday evening, a sharp exchange on X, in which a commentator urged Elon Musk to hire Jensen Huang and Musk replied that it would be an honour, brought into public view a quieter and more serious matter: Nvidia's board, the body that holds the power over the chief executive who co-founded the company, was weighing whether to remove him. The pressure arises from reports of two alleged extramarital relationships, one entangled with a woman under US intelligence scrutiny over suspected chip shipments to Chinese firms, and the question of whether a leader at the center of a powerful indust
Musk Says Hiring Jensen Huang Would Be an 'Honour' as Nvidia Board Weighs CEO's Future
Musk answered: "That would be an honour."
Mark
Musk's reply is a single line. Why does it get attention?
Mimi
Because it lands while Nvidia's board is meeting on whether to remove Huang. A very public offer of a job comes just as his current one is in question.
Mark
What is the board actually weighing?
Mimi
Reports of two alleged extramarital relationships, plus an investigation into claims he was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.
Luke
Let me separate what is established. Huang himself acknowledged being unfaithful and took full responsibility. But he named no one and didn't address either woman specifically.
Mark
And the Alice Huang part?
Mimi
Reuters says US intelligence is investigating her over suspected efforts to help chips reach Chinese companies. The New York Times says officials believed she was gathering information for Beijing. She is not related to him.
Luke
Those are attributed reports about what agencies believe. Reuters said it could not independently verify the allegations, and the Powell claim rests on five unnamed people.
Mark
The board said on November 8 it had no reason to think secrets were compromised.
Mimi
It did, and repeated it on November 10 when it hired Joon H. Kim and Wachtell Lipton. Yet it is now reportedly considering removal.
Luke
Reportedly is the key word. No decision has been announced, and nothing says Musk's offer is more than a social media remark.
Der Puls
- Nvidia's board convened under pressure to decide whether co-founder Jensen Huang should keep his role as chief executive.
- Reports of two alleged extramarital relationships have collided with a US intelligence probe into suspected chip shipments to Chinese firms.
- The board's tone has shifted in days, from expressing confidence in Huang on November 8 to weighing his removal.
- Huang has admitted infidelity and taken full responsibility, but has not answered the specific allegations about either woman.
- An independent investigation led by former acting US Attorney Joon H. Kim now holds the outcome, with no decision announced yet.
On a Wednesday evening, a sharp exchange on X, in which a commentator urged Elon Musk to hire Jensen Huang and Musk replied that it would be an honour, brought into public view a quieter and more serious matter: Nvidia's board, the body that holds the power over the chief executive who co-founded the company, was weighing whether to remove him. The pressure arises from reports of two alleged extramarital relationships, one entangled with a woman under US intelligence scrutiny over suspected chip shipments to Chinese firms, and the question of whether a leader at the center of a powerful industry had been quietly drawn into a foreign operation. Nothing has been decided, and the allegations remain unverified, so the story now rests with an independent inquiry that will determine whether Huang's place at the company he helped build can stand.
On Wednesday evening, a post on X urged Elon Musk to hire Jensen Huang, and Musk replied that it would be an honour. The remark landed against a serious backdrop: Nvidia's board was due to meet to decide whether its co-founder and chief executive would remain in the role.
The meeting followed reports about Huang's personal life. Two alleged extramarital relationships are at the center of the story. One involves Alice Huang, a businesswoman, who is not related to him and who US intelligence agencies reportedly suspect of helping funnel Nvidia chips to Chinese companies and of gathering information for Beijing. That link has raised the question of whether Huang may have been unknowingly drawn into a foreign intelligence operation. The second, according to The New York Times, involves Kimberly Powell, the company's vice-president of healthcare, who reported directly to him. Reuters could not independently verify the allegations.
Huang has acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and said he took full responsibility, but he did not name the other person and did not address the specific claims about either woman.
The board's stance has changed quickly. On November 8 it stated it had no reason to believe national security or company secrets were compromised and expressed confidence in Huang. On November 10 it retained Joon H. Kim and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to lead an independent review. The prospect of removal now sits beside that inquiry, and its findings will decide whether Huang remains at the company he co-founded.
On Wednesday evening in the US, a financial account on X called ZeroHedge posted a short plea to Elon Musk: "Elon please hire Jensen." Musk answered within the same exchange: "That would be an honour." The post referred to Jensen Huang, the co-founder and chief executive of Nvidia, whose board was weighing whether to remove him.
Reuters reported on Thursday that the board was due to meet late Wednesday to decide Huang's future as CEO. The meeting followed reports about his personal relationships. As of the source reporting, Nvidia has not announced any decision to remove him.
The reports center on two alleged extramarital relationships. One reportedly involved Alice Huang, a businesswoman whom US intelligence agencies are said to be investigating over suspected efforts to facilitate shipments of Nvidia chips to Chinese companies, according to Reuters. She is not related to Jensen Huang. The New York Times separately reported that US intelligence agencies believed she was gathering information for Beijing. Those accounts have prompted the question of whether Huang may have been unknowingly targeted in a foreign intelligence operation.
The second alleged relationship, according to The New York Times, which cited five people familiar with Nvidia, was with Kimberly Powell, the company's vice-president of healthcare, who reported directly to Huang. Reuters said it could not independently verify the allegations.
Huang has addressed part of this in a message to employees. He acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and said he took "full responsibility." He did not name the person involved, and he did not respond to the specific allegations concerning either woman.
The board's posture has moved over a matter of days. On November 8, it announced an independent investigation following the reports that Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. It said it had "no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised," expressed confidence in Huang and his leadership team, and said he supported the review and would cooperate.
On November 10, Nvidia announced that its independent directors had retained Joon H. Kim, a former acting US Attorney, and his firm, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, to carry out the inquiry. The board said the review would examine all available information, and it repeated that it had no reason to believe national security or company secrets had been compromised.
The reported decision to consider removal therefore marks a shift from the confidence the board voiced on November 8. What the board decides, and what the Wachtell Lipton investigation finds, will determine whether Huang remains at the company he co-founded.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
That would be an honour.— Elon Musk, replying on X to a post urging him to hire Jensen Huang
Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and said he took full responsibility.— Jensen Huang, message to Nvidia employees (paraphrased)
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