The Founder Steps Down

The most valuable company on earth just lost the man who built it. On Thursday, Nvidia's board announced that Jensen Huang is stepping down as chief executive, effective immediately, and leaving the board too. His chief financial officer, Colette Kress, takes over as interim chief executive while the board searches for a permanent successor. The resignation caps a week that began with Huang admitting to staff that he had cheated on his wife. American officials believe the woman was recruited by Chinese intelligence, a claim NPR has not independently confirmed. Then came reports of a second affair, with an executive who reported to him. On Sunday the board still backed him. By Thursday he was gone. Nvidia shares fell almost 13 percent in premarket trading, and the stock is down about 31 percent from its peak in early October. Huang founded Nvidia 33 years ago and turned it into the company that powers the AI race. The question now is whether it can run without him. The affair is personal. The stakes are not. When the company at the center of the AI race loses its founder in a week, the story is about who holds the keys. That's your SignalWatch, from Ashfires Press. Sources: NPR, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang steps down amid alleged spy scandal (Nov 12, 2026): https://www.npr.org/2026/11/12/nx-s1-6037833/jensen-huang-nvidia-stepped-down Fast Company, Nvidia stock drop: How low will it go? (Nov 12, 2026): https://www.fastcompany.com/91640961/how-low-will-nvidia-stock-go-analysts-worry-that-ceo-succession-could-be-a-long-term-threat-to-the-price That's your SignalWatch, from Ashfires Press.