Huang Jensen Reports to Work as Usual After Admitting Affair... Apologizes to Employees Before Meeting

Chaired executive meeting after email apologizing for affair
Employees shocked... Board investigation underway

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, who admitted to having an affair with Alice Huang, who is suspected of being a Chinese spy, reported to the company's headquarters as usual and continued working.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Yonhap News Agency

U.S. business news network CNBC reported on November 10 (local time) that CEO Huang went to NVIDIA's headquarters in Santa Clara, California, and chaired a meeting, a week before the company was scheduled to announce its quarterly results.

At a regular morning meeting attended by senior executives the previous day, CEO Huang acknowledged his wrongdoing in connection with his personal life and apologized to employees. He then reportedly continued the meeting immediately, without a separate question-and-answer session, discussing key business issues. Sources said that even as the board formed an investigative committee led by independent directors and hired an outside law firm to begin an investigation, Huang appeared to be trying to steady the organization by carrying on with his work as usual.

However, employees' reactions are reportedly still chilly. Longtime NVIDIA employees, in particular, are said to have been deeply shocked by the incident, as they had viewed CEO Huang as someone who "never makes mistakes" and as their "guide." When CNBC asked about the mood inside the company, some employees said they were "sad," while another said they were "deeply shocked."

In a message released on November 8, CEO Huang also acknowledged having an extramarital relationship and apologized, telling employees, "I know that an apology alone cannot undo what I have done," and "I hope my family can heal from this hurt and that, with time, I can regain your trust."

The incident has attracted attention both inside and outside the company, as it coincides with allegations that Alice Huang, the woman involved, has links to Chinese intelligence agencies. However, these allegations have not been confirmed. NVIDIA's board is investigating the relationship between Jensen Huang and the woman who has been linked to Chinese intelligence agencies through an independent committee led by John Kim, a Korean American attorney and former acting U.S. attorney.

Huang has led NVIDIA for 33 years since co-founding the company in 1993. He transformed NVIDIA from a maker of graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming into a key company in the global AI chip market, building considerable influence both inside and outside the company. He directly receives reports from about 60 senior executives and directs the company's overall management. Attention is now focused on whether he can restore the trust within the company that has been shaken by the incident.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.