Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has previously acknowledged an extramarital relationship with a woman who has been accused in media reports of being a Chinese spy. The New York Times now reports that Huang is suspected of a separate extramarital relationship with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare; the Times says Powell is also married.
Basis for the new allegation
According to the New York Times, five Nvidia employees told the paper that Huang and Powell were recorded on video "being affectionate at a San Jose, Calif., hotel" during a company conference earlier this year. The Times also notes that Nvidia, like many companies, has policies discouraging romantic relationships between supervisors and their subordinate direct reports.
TechCrunch contacted Nvidia for comment regarding the report.
Investigation, congressional pressure, and possible board action
Nvidia’s board has opened an investigation into the affair Huang has publicly acknowledged. Separately, two Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives said they are preparing to subpoena Huang if he does not voluntarily appear for a closed-door briefing about the spy-related allegations.
After reports about the alleged second relationship were published, the Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia’s board was preparing steps that could lead to Huang’s removal. Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has been a central figure in the company since its founding.
Why the developments matter
The matters at hand have both corporate-governance and national-security implications: relationships involving senior executives and direct reports can violate company policies and raise conflicts of interest, while the earlier allegations connected to espionage have prompted congressional scrutiny and could lead to legal or regulatory consequences.
As of the reports, Nvidia and the individuals involved had not provided a comprehensive public response; ongoing internal and external inquiries may produce further developments.
