Nvidia’s board of directors said on Tuesday (November 10) that it has hired Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct an investigation of CEO Jensen Huang and whether company secrets or national security was compromised, after Huang admitted to having an affair with Alice Huang, CEO of Singapore-based company MegaSpeed. Alice Hunag has been connected to Chinese intelligence.In the statement, the Nvidia board said, “The independent members of the NVIDIA Board have retained former acting U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim and his firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct a thorough and independent investigation as was announced on Sunday.” Kim joined the AI chip giant Nvidia in October, and he was previously the chief US prosecutor in Manhattan. Nvidia’s board has 10 independent members, including a former president of Taco Bell, a former Eli Lilly executive and a former vice chairman from Goldman Sachs. Nvidia’s lead independent director and head of corporate governance is Stephen Neal. According to reports, Neal’s experience makes him a likely key figure in the investigation.
First statement from Nvidia’s board of directors on CEO Jesen Huang’s affair
In its first statement on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s affair, Nvidia’s board on Sunday (November 8) said that it would investigate the allegations that Huang had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. “The NVIDIA Board is initiating an independent investigation in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. A committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the investigation. The Board prioritizes U.S. national and economic security, which is paramount to the interests of NVIDIA and its shareholders. While the Board has no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised, the Board’s inquiry will examine all available information. Jensen fully supports the review and has committed to cooperating with it. The Board has confidence in Jensen and his leadership team and will provide further updates as appropriate,” read the full statement from the board.The allegations on Jensen Huang come as Nvidia has become the center of a trade dispute between China and the US as AI is seen as increasingly critical to US national security. Over the past two years, US government has refused to allow sale of top-end Nvidia chips to China, citing national security concerns as well as to protect America’s lead in AI space.
Read Huang’s email to Nvidia employee
Below is the email that Jensen Huang sent to Nvidia employees. Analysts also pointed out that Jensen Huang’s two children and son-in-law too are Nvidia employees, which means that the mail ‘reaches’ out to them to as well.To my colleagues at NVIDIA,I owe my family and all of you an apology.I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.Throughout my life, my family has given me love and support. They deserve my honesty and loyalty. Instead, I let them down and damaged the life we built together. I take full responsibility for what I did and the hurt I caused, and I accept the criticism that comes with it.To my wife and family: I love you. I know an apology cannot undo what I have done. I hope our family will heal and that, over time, I can earn back your trust.To my colleagues at NVIDIA, including those I have worked alongside for decades, and to our board, partners, and shareholders around the world: you deserve better from me. Leading NVIDIA is the privilege of my life. My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence.Regarding the national security concerns raised in news reports, NVIDIA’s Board of Directors has initiated an independent investigation. I support the investigation and will cooperate fully. I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America’s national security. I am proud and grateful to be an American.My family bears no responsibility for my choices. I do. Please give them privacy.— Jensen
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