Nvidia has announced they are launching an independent investigation into the company’s CEO, Jensen Huang, following his admission that he had an affair with a suspected Chinese Spy. The board of the tech juggernaut confirmed these plans in a statement released today, claiming that they are looking into concerns that have come out “in light of recent reporting” that has suggested that Huang has “been the target of a foreign intelligence effort.”
This follows a New York Times article concerning Jensen Huang published in late October, which stated that the CEO was unfaithful to his wife. To make matters worse, the report claims that the person who he had an affair with is an individual that U.S. Intelligence suspects to be a Spy in the employ of the Chinese Government. The person named in the report was a Megaspeed executive and a Chinese businesswoman, Alice Huang or Huang Le, with the Nvidia CEO confirming the affair via a company memo to staff.
He stated:
I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children,” he said. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.
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.
This prompted Nvidia to say an independent director will oversee an effort, with the assistance of an outside independent counsel, to conduct an investigation into the events. Despite this, the board did claim there was “no reason to believe either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised.” The full statement reads:
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.
Jensen Huang will remain CEO of Nvidia while the investigations proceed. As per the New York Times report, as of last year, U.S. officials did not believe that Huang was aware of the potential link between Alice Huang and Chinese Intelligence. As of now, Nvidia has a market capitalization of approximately $4.5 trillion, with the company frequently trading as the #1 and #2 most valuable company globally.
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