Two major Nvidia shareholders, Altimeter Capital and Atreides Management, have called on the company's board to conduct a "slow, measured, and deliberate process" for selecting new leadership, explicitly leaving open the possibility of Jensen Huang's return as CEO [1]. This move comes after Huang resigned as president, CEO and director on November 12 following reports about personal relationships and an independent board investigation [1]. Altimeter Capital, led by Brad Gerstner, holds approximately 9.4 million Nvidia shares worth nearly $1.9 billion as of June 30, while Atreides Management holds 1.2 million shares worth nearly $250 million, giving both firms substantial influence over company direction [1].
The shareholders' letter affirms confidence in interim CEO Colette Kress, Nvidia's former 13-year CFO, to capably lead the company during the transition [1]. However, the letter emphasizes that "the Founder and long time incredible leader of this extraordinary company has earned the right for a deliberate process that avoids any needless rush to replace him before all the facts are known" [1]. The shareholder intervention reflects broader support for Huang's potential reinstatement, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk publicly signing a petition called "Stand with Jensen" that claims over 100,000 signatures, including more than 5,000 current Nvidia employees [1]. Musk warned that without Huang, some "critical deals will be lost" [1].
Huang's resignation occurred amid multiple affair allegations, including one involving suspected Chinese spy Alice Huang who worked with Nvidia customer Megspeed [1]. The situation has drawn congressional attention, with letters calling on U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to testify before the House Intelligence Committee about Megaspeed, and Lutnick has agreed to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on December 10 regarding whether the Commerce Department is properly preventing China from acquiring restricted AI chips [1].
CONCLUSION
Major shareholders are pushing for a measured CEO succession process that could result in Jensen Huang's reinstatement, signaling investor confidence in his leadership despite serious allegations and ongoing investigations. The deliberate approach contrasts with potential pressure for immediate replacement, though geopolitical concerns and personal conduct allegations create significant uncertainty around Huang's future at Nvidia.