Nvidia's lack of a succession plan when Jensen Huang quit draws criticism from former Fortune 500 CEOs
Nvidia had no succession plan in place when CEO Jensen Huang resigned on November 12, 2026, following reports of a second affair, leaving the company without a clear heir and prompting criticism from former Fortune 500 CEOs who called the situation "preposterous." CFO Colette Kress was named interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement, though her background lacks business leadership experience, and experts believe the board improvised its response. Critics point to Huang's 60 direct reports, a board with no Fortune 500 CEO experience, and investor complacency driven by Nvidia's massive success as red flags. The company's diverse shareholder structure, with Huang holding only 3.5% of shares, means the board had the power to prepare a successor but failed, highlighting a governance weakness that experts say could have invited activist intervention if Nvidia's performance had faltered.