Nvidia Board Opens Independent Probe Into Whether CEO Jensen Huang Was Targeted by Chinese Intelligence After He Admits Affair

Nvidia's board of directors has launched an independent investigation into whether CEO Jensen Huang was the target of a foreign espionage operation, after Huang admitted in a memo to employees that he had a romantic relationship with a business executive whom U.S. officials have assessed was working for China's intelligence services. The woman has been identified as an executive at Megaspeed International, whom U.S. intelligence believes was recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to gather information on Huang. Huang told employees he was "deeply sorry" for the affair and said he is cooperating fully with the probe.

A committee of independent directors, working with outside legal counsel, will oversee the investigation. Nvidia said in a statement that "the board has no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised," but that the inquiry will examine all available information. Huang will remain as CEO while the investigation proceeds, though Nvidia has no public succession plan.

The disclosure adds to pressure already building around Huang from Congress. House Republican committee leaders had separately requested that Huang attend a closed-door briefing by November 18 to explain his ties to the reported intelligence asset. Nvidia shares have retreated from a record market capitalization of nearly $5.8 trillion reached in October to below $5 trillion. The company is scheduled to report earnings later this month.