Nvidia’s board is reportedly weighing who could lead the chipmaker after Jensen Huang, as names from inside and outside the company surface. The company has reportedly hired an outside executive search firm to find possible candidates for the CEO role.
Huang has led Nvidia for a long time, and the company has never named a designated successor. According to reports, the board is now preparing for a situation where it may need one.
The board reportedly met on November 11, 2026, to discuss Huang’s future at the company. Those talks reportedly included the option of naming an interim CEO while a search for a permanent leader takes place.
No final decision from the board has been reported. The discussions so far appear focused on planning for a possible change at the top.
The Names Being Floated
Several possible successors have appeared in reports about the search. On the internal side, Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has been mentioned as a possible choice.
Ian Buck, an engineer at Nvidia, has also been named in reporting. He is the second internal name to appear in reports so far.
Two outside executives have also been floated. They are Johny Srouji of Apple and Rene Haas of Arm.
These names are reported possibilities and not confirmed candidates. The board has not announced a shortlist of people it is considering.
Huang reportedly owns about 3.6% of Nvidia. That stake gives him influence that goes beyond his job title.
Reports say Huang has kept a highly centralized management structure at the company. Analysts have raised concerns about that style and about the lack of a clear succession plan.
Governance Probe and Market Reaction
The CEO search reportedly comes alongside an internal investigation into governance concerns involving Huang. The review is said to be led by outside legal counsel.
The law firm leading that review is reportedly Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. The findings of the investigation have not been made public.
Lawmakers have also reportedly asked for briefings on chip export controls to China in connection with the situation. That request adds a policy side to what began as a corporate matter.
The board has not formally named an interim leader. It is also unclear when the Wachtell-led review will be completed.
Investors reacted before the board reached any decision. Nvidia shares reportedly fell by about 8% in after-hours trading on November 11.
That drop reportedly added to an estimated $600 billion in market value erased over the past week. The decline came as reports of the board meeting and CEO search spread.
