Following the exit of CEO Jensen Huang on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, Nvidia has started a search for its next chief. Colette Kress now leads daily work as interim head. At the same time, the board is looking at top insiders and chip veterans.
The change comes after Huang left over hidden workplace ties and national security reviews. The new leader must run a huge business, ship AI chips, and talk with state regulators.
Executive Summary
- Search Underway: Nvidia set up a board group to pick internal and external leaders.
- Interim Leadership: Finance chief Colette Kress stepped in to keep company operations steady.
- Internal Favorites: CUDA creator Ian Buck and gaming leader Jeff Fisher bring deep chip roots.
- Outside Names: Arm chief Rene Haas and Apple chip boss Johny Srouji top external lists.
- Cook Rumors Cleared: Pundit talk of Apple CEO Tim Cook was dismissed by market experts.
Table of Contents
- Why Talk of Big Tech Icons Misses the Real Goal
- 1. Ian Buck: The CUDA Creator and Cloud Engine Leader
- 2. Colette Kress: The Trusted Finance and Operational Leader
- 3. Rene Haas: Arm Chief With Proven Nvidia Heritage
- 4. Johny Srouji: Apple’s Custom Silicon Mastermind
- 5. Jeff Fisher: The Veteran Guardian of GeForce Culture
- Key Data and Technical Comparison
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Talk of Big Tech Icons Misses the Real Goal
When Jensen Huang stepped down, some talk shows suggested Apple CEO Tim Cook. But chip analysts noted that idea misses how Nvidia works.
Cook is an expert in phone supply chains and retail shops. Nvidia, by contrast, wins on chip design, software stacks, and cloud compute. Running Nvidia requires deep knowledge of accelerated computing.
As shown in TeckScaler’s breaking report on Jensen Huang’s resignation from Nvidia, the board needs a leader who understands chip engineers.
1. Ian Buck: The CUDA Creator and Cloud Engine Leader
Inside Nvidia, Ian Buck stands as the top technical pick. As Vice President of Hyperscale and High-Performance Computing, Buck runs the group that powers Nvidia’s cloud revenue.
Buck joined Nvidia in 2004 after creating CUDA at Stanford. CUDA turned graphics chips into general computing engines. That software layer gave Nvidia a huge lead over rivals.
Buck knows every part of Nvidia’s software and chip roadmaps. Naming him would show that raw engineering remains the company’s top goal.
2. Colette Kress: The Trusted Finance and Operational Leader
Colette Kress took over as interim CEO on Thursday. She has served as Nvidia’s Chief Financial Officer since 2013, guiding its rise to a record valuation.
Wall Street knows and trusts Kress. She managed supply during chip booms, parts crunches, and the AI boom. Her calm style reassures big investors during market swings.
If the board wants steady operations, keeping Kress as permanent CEO with a strong technical deputy is a proven path.
3. Rene Haas: Arm Chief With Proven Nvidia Heritage
If the board looks outside, Rene Haas tops the list. Haas is the CEO of Arm Holdings, leading its 2023 public debut and its push into data centers.
Haas spent seven years at Nvidia as a Vice President. He knows Nvidia’s staff, its work culture, and its top customers.
His skill managing chip licenses, trade rules, and world partnerships fits Nvidia’s global needs.
4. Johny Srouji: Apple’s Custom Silicon Mastermind
Johny Srouji leads hardware tech at Apple. He built the engineering team that designed Apple Silicon, including the A-series and M-series chips.
Srouji is known as one of the best chip designers alive. He has a strong record of hitting deadlines with power-saving silicon.
With cloud firms building custom chips as covered in TeckScaler’s guide on custom AI silicon independence, Srouji’s skills would help Nvidia stay ahead.
5. Jeff Fisher: The Veteran Guardian of GeForce Culture
Jeff Fisher leads Nvidia’s GeForce gaming group. He has worked at the company for more than thirty years, joining soon after its launch in 1994.
Fisher built the sales teams and partner ties that made GeForce famous. Longtime staff view him as a cultural anchor who knows the firm deeply.
While AI data centers bring in most sales today, gaming remains Nvidia’s foundation. Fisher brings deep ties to Asian factories and game studios.
Key Data and Technical Comparison
| Name | Role | Strength | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Buck | VP Hyperscale & HPC | Invented CUDA; commands data center roadmap | Internal Technical |
| Colette Kress | Interim CEO & CFO | Wall Street favorite; managed $3T+ market cap climb | Internal Operational |
| Rene Haas | CEO, Arm Holdings | Ex-Nvidia VP; proven public company leadership | External Hybrid |
| Johny Srouji | SVP Hardware, Apple | World-class chip architect; led Apple Silicon | External Technical |
| Jeff Fisher | SVP GeForce Gaming | 30-year veteran; guardian of company culture | Internal Veteran |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Nvidia looking for a new CEO?
Jensen Huang resigned on Nov. 12, 2026, after board inquiries revealed undisclosed relationships with an employee and an accused foreign agent.
Who is running Nvidia right now?
Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress is serving as interim CEO while the board conducts a formal search.
Could Tim Cook become CEO of Nvidia?
No. Market analysts dismissed the rumor because Nvidia requires deep semiconductor knowledge rather than consumer device sales.
Who is the top internal pick to replace Jensen Huang?
Ian Buck, creator of CUDA and head of Hyperscale Computing, is the top internal technical choice.
When will Nvidia name a permanent CEO?
The board has not set an exact date, but analysts expect a choice within three to six months as candidate talks advance.
Related Reading
- Jensen Huang Resigns as Nvidia CEO Following Affair Inquiries
- OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, DeepSeek Push for AI Chip Independence With Custom ASICs
- Nvidia Open-Sources Nemotron Reasoning Recipe to Accelerate Open AI Research
[…] exit, Nvidia’s board has launched a formal search for its next chief executive, evaluating five internal and external CEO candidates to lead the chip […]