Nvidia appointed finance chief Colette Kress interim chief executive after Jensen Huang resigned as president, CEO and a director with immediate effect on Nov. 12, the company said.
Kress will retain her roles as executive vice president and chief financial officer while running the company until a permanent successor is named. The board will consider internal and external candidates.
The board also appointed Harvey C. Jones as Nvidia's first chair, putting him at the head of the board while Kress takes responsibility for running the company.
The disclosures covered filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from Nov. 11 through Nov. 14. The review examined 24 of the largest U.S.-listed companies and financial institutions.
Nvidia filed its Form 8-K on Nov. 12 under Item 5.02, which covers departures or appointments of directors or officers. A Form 8-K gives investors notice of corporate events.
Jones said the board expected Nvidia's operations, commitments to customers and product plans to continue without interruption during the leadership transition. He expressed confidence in Kress and the company's leadership team.
“Colette has helped lead NVIDIA through a period of extraordinary growth and has a deep understanding of our business, customers, operations and financial position,” Jones said.
He also credited the leadership team with carrying out the company's strategy and developing its technology plans. His comments accompanied the appointments of Kress as interim chief executive and Jones as chair.
Kress has served as Nvidia's executive vice president and chief financial officer since joining the company in September 2013. She has led its finance organization throughout that time.
Before joining Nvidia, Kress spent nearly 25 years in finance positions at technology companies, including Cisco and Microsoft. Her appointment gives her responsibility for both executive leadership and finance during the search.
Jones has spent more than 30 years as an entrepreneur, technology executive and venture investor. His previous positions include chief executive and executive chairman of Synopsys.
Kress said she would work with Nvidia's leadership team to build on the foundation Huang created over the past 33 years. The board's search will determine who takes the chief executive role permanently.
