Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang apologised to employees during a meeting after disclosing an extramarital affair. The company's board has launched an investigation, while reports of the relationship have drawn scrutiny amid Huang's business ties with China.The investigation comes amid reports concerning the identity of the woman involved and claims linking her to Chinese intelligence.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed employees about his extramarital affair during a meeting with senior executives at the company's headquarters in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, a day after disclosing the matter to staff, CNBC reported.According to people familiar with the meeting who spoke to CNBC on condition of anonymity, Huang began the closed-door gathering by addressing his infidelity and apologising to employees.However, he did not take any questions and quickly shifted the discussion to business matters and the day's agenda.Huang was also present at the office on Tuesday, holding meetings with senior executives, as the company prepares to announce its quarterly earnings next week. Nvidia did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.JENSEN HUANG APOLOGISES TO EMPLOYEESThe 63-year-old CEO disclosed his extramarital affair in an email to employees on Sunday.
While he acknowledged the relationship, he did not identify the person involved. "I know an apology cannot undo what I have done," Huang wrote in the email, according to CNBC. "I hope our family will heal and that, over time, I can earn back your trust."People familiar with the company's internal environment told CNBC that Huang appeared to be maintaining a 'business as usual' approach despite the controversy surrounding his personal life.However, employees reportedly described the mood within the company as "sad". One employee told CNBC that they were shocked by the CEO's revelations.Longtime employees, who had viewed Huang as an idol and a guiding figure within the company, were also reportedly struggling to come to terms with the disclosure.NVIDIA BOARD OPENS INVESTIGATIONThe controversy has also prompted scrutiny of Huang's reported relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Megaspeed.
The Financial Times reported that the Nvidia CEO was romantically involved with her.CNBC reported that Nvidia's board opened an investigation into the matter and hired the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct the probe on Tuesday.The investigation comes amid reports concerning the identity of the woman involved and claims linking her to Chinese intelligence. However, the available information does not establish that she was a Chinese spy.HUANG'S CHINA CONNECTIONS UNDER SCRUTINYThe developments have also drawn attention to Huang's position on Nvidia's business in China, particularly his continued support for selling advanced artificial intelligence chips to the country.Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993, initially building graphics processing units (GPUs) for video games.
The company has since become one of the most influential players in the artificial intelligence industry, supplying chips that power large language models and massive data centres.Beyond his role in the technology sector, Huang has also emerged as an important voice in discussions between Washington and Beijing over technology and trade.He accompanied US President Donald Trump on his visit to China in May. In September, Huang and his wife were also photographed at the same table as Chinese President Xi Jinping during a White House state dinner.The latest controversy has added another dimension to scrutiny surrounding the Nvidia chief, whose business decisions and public engagements have made him a prominent figure in the global AI industry.- Ends