Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang came under scrutiny this week after he admitted to an affair that The New York Times linked to a suspected Chinese intelligence asset. It now appears that this may not have been his only affair, a second strike which may see him ousted from his position leading the multibillion-dollar chipmaker.
The New York Times reports that Huang had an extramarital romantic relationship with his coworker Kimberly Powell, who currently serves as Nvidia's vice president of healthcare. While it's unclear whether this affair is still ongoing, multiple sources speaking to the Times stated that Huang and Powell were seen being affectionate with each other as recently as this March. Huang has been married to his wife since 1985, while Powell is reportedly married as well.
Meanwhile, Nvidia’s board is allegedly looking to oust Huang. The company had previously stated that Huang would stay on as CEO during the investigation into his affair with Megaspeed executive Alice Huang (no relation). However, the revelation of his relationship with Powell may have changed that plan. The Wall Street Journal reports that the board now intends to remove Huang. Reuters reported that the board was meeting late Wednesday to decide his future.
Nvidia's code of conduct does not explicitly prohibit workers from cheating on their spouses, or from dating their coworkers. However, it does warn employees to avoid conflicts of interest, which may include "personal relationships," and further states that managers "serve as role models."
"We ask ourselves what the impact would be if our conduct or action became public or came to the attention of respected colleagues," reads the code.
"We conduct ourselves and our business with the highest ethical standards by never taking undue advantage of a business relationship and never sacrificing a long-term relationship for a short-term gain."
In a letter preceding the code, Huang stated that it is the company's "responsibility to maintain high ethical standards," and urged employees to "ensure that each of us upholds the principles that are essential for preserving NVIDIA's reputation as a distinguished and exceptional company."
On Nov. 8, Huang acknowledged the affair in an email to employees that Nvidia later published, The New York Times having named his affair partner as Ms. Huang. Though U.S. spy agencies have reportedly identified Ms. Huang as a Chinese intelligence asset, China has refuted such allegations as "groundless smears and slanders" against the country.
Nvidia's stock was already down after the recent U.S. midterm elections, and fell around 10 percent through Tuesday's close after Huang's affair with Ms. Huang became public. Now the company’s stock has fallen even further following reports of his second affair and potential ousting, shaving more than 8 percent off its value in Wednesday's after-hours trading.
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