Nvidia board weighs removing Jensen Huang days after backing him

Nvidia's board met late Wednesday, November 11, 2026, to decide whether to remove CEO Jensen Huang, according to a source familiar with the matter. The meeting came three days after the board publicly expressed confidence in Huang and announced an independent investigation into reporting that he was the target of a foreign intelligence effort.

Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the board meeting.

Under Nvidia's bylaws, Huang can be removed "with or without cause" by a majority vote of directors. Nvidia has 11 directors and considers all but Huang independent.

The board's Sunday statement said it had confidence in Huang and his leadership team. It did not mention succession planning. The investigation it announced followed reporting on Huang's relationship with a businesswoman named Alice Huang. Reports also describe a second extramarital affair involving Huang and a subordinate.

Markets moved sharply on the news. Nvidia shares slid more than 8% in extended trading and were down 7.7% in overnight trading. If those losses held, the company would have lost about $600 billion in market value since the board announced its investigation.

The reaction split the semiconductor sector. AMD shares advanced 3.5% and Broadcom 2.5%. Nvidia-backed Intel fell 2%, Micron dropped 2%, Super Micro fell 4.1%, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF slid 1.6%. Bernstein cut its rating on Nvidia to "Market Perform" from "Outperform" and halved its price target to $200.

Nvidia is the dominant supplier of AI chips, so a leadership crisis at the top carries weight well beyond the company. It moves rival chipmakers, partners, and the broader semiconductor sector.

No successor has been named, and no succession plan has been disclosed.