SAN FRANCISCO, United States, November 12 (Reuters) – Nvidia’s former chief executive, Jensen Huang, maintained an intimate relationship with a second female employee of the company, according to two people familiar with the matter, Reuters has learned.
The revelation comes on the heels of two other extramarital cases that led to his resignation on Thursday. The two women are Alice Huang, whom U.S. intelligence services suspect to be a Chinese spy, and Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s Vice President of Health.
Reuters is not disclosing the name of the second employee. Attempts to contact the woman were unsuccessful.
Nvidia declined to comment. Powell, Jensen Huang and a representative of Nvidia’s board did not respond to requests for comment. Alice Huang could not be reached for comment.
Jensen Huang acknowledged having had a case in a statement released on November 8, after the news about his relationship with Alice Huang, without naming her.
The decision by Nvidia’s former chief executive to resign could shake the AI sector that he helped shape. Nvidia has used its financial strength to help create an AI sector through complex financing deals that facilitate the purchase of the company’s chips. In doing so, it backed cloud computing companies and AI labs.
Pressure on Jensen Huang, 63, who is married, to resign intensified after the news about his case with Alice Huang.
The Nvidia board named Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim Chief Executive while it conducts a search to replace Jensen Huang. The board is considering internal and external candidates for the position.
Earlier this month, the Nvidia board launched an investigation, led by independent directors with external legal counsel, to determine whether Jensen Huang had been the target of a foreign intelligence operation. At the time, the board also expressed its confidence in him.
Nvidia’s shares were down 5.5% on Thursday, accumulating a drop of more than 30% since the peak recorded in early October.
James Whitmore