Rene Haas has emerged as the leading external candidate to take over as chief executive of Nvidia following the resignation of Jensen Huang, according to a report by the Financial Times.
Huang stepped down from the chipmaker after a scandal involving his extramarital relationships, leaving the semiconductor giant searching for new leadership. Haas, who currently serves as chief executive of Arm, spent roughly seven years at Nvidia until 2013, building a track record in technological development and corporate management.
“We are selecting a headhunter firm for the position of CEO of Nvidia,” the company said, adding that “any speculation on individual candidates, internal or external, is premature,” according to Agenzia ANSA.
“Founders are different from professional managers,” said George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group, noting that figures like Steve Jobs at Apple and Elon Musk in Tesla left indelible marks on their respective companies. “Jensen falls into the category.”
Beyond Haas, executive search firms are weighing other external contenders, including AMD Chief Executive Lisa Su. However, industry analysts observe that the direct market rivalry between AMD and Nvidia, alongside family ties between Su and Huang, complicates any potential transition.
Other names circulated by industry observers include former Google executive Eric Schmidt, Google Cloud head Thomas Kurian, and AWS leader Matt Garman. The Nvidia board faces mounting pressure to select a leader capable of reassuring investors amid ongoing shareholder litigation.
Internally, Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has stepped into the role of interim chief executive. While financial analysts view the long-serving executive as an unlikely permanent successor, she will have an opportunity to make her case during the upcoming quarterly earnings presentation scheduled for November 17.
Other internal candidates from Huang’s inner circle include Ian Buck, the vice president who spearheaded the development of the CUDA software platform, general counsel Tim Teter, and global field operations chief Nick Parker.
The succession debate also touches upon familial involvement within the firm. Huang holds a 3.6 percent stake in Nvidia and previously placed family members in key organizational roles, including his daughter Madison Huang, who serves as a senior marketing director, and her husband, Nico Caprez, alongside his son Spencer Huang.
