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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang set to be fired, with Johny Srouji listed among possible replacements
Following reports of a potential second affair – this time with a subordinate – Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang looks certain to be fired by the company’s board, probably later today (though he may be allowed to ‘resign’).
Apple’s chief hardware officer Johny Srouji has been listed among the potential replacements, though this seems unlikely …
For anyone who’s been away from the planet for the past fortnight, Huang’s affair with a woman suspected to be a Chinese spy has been the main headline news in the tech press since it came to light at the end of last month. The New York Times broke the story on October 29th, citing it then as “a close relationship.” Nvidia initially denied that the relationship was anything out of the ordinary.
That changed on November 8th when Huang publicly admitted to the affair. Nvidia’s shares dropped 5%, and the company’s board of directors opened an independent investigation. Further details emerged over the following days.
Things got even worse yesterday when the same paper reported that Huang had also had an affair with an Nvidia executive who reports to him.
It was already looking inevitable that he would be fired, and the latest revelation adds to the urgency. The Wall Street Journal reported that the board was meeting last night to discuss the CEO’s future. That future at Nvidia is likely to be measured in hours rather than days.
The board now needs to find a replacement, and Bloomberg provides a rundown on some of the potential candidates. CFO Colette Kress looks likely to head the list for at least an interim appointment. The paper names a number of other possibilities, including Apple’s chief hardware officer, Johny Srouji.
Srouji has led one of the most successful in-house silicon programs in the industry, overseeing the custom chips that power the iPhone, Mac and other Apple devices. His track record gives him deep credibility on chip design, product integration and long-term technology roadmaps. But much of his experience has been built inside Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem, and he hasn’t been tested in the kind of high-profile salesmanship which Huang is famous for.
Given the urgency, my money is on Nvidia announcing Kress as at least interim CEO, if not a permanent replacement. It seems exceedingly unlikely that Srouji would be appointed at this time, given the in-depth negotiations and discussions that would need to take place.
As to whether he’s a potential candidate following an interim appointment, it still seems unlikely. There were earlier reports of his previous dissatisfaction at the company, but it seems a stretch to imagine him jumping ship so soon after his promotion to chief hardware officer.