Colette Kress has been appointed Nvidia’s interim chief executive after Jensen Huang resigned on November 12, 2026. The longtime finance executive will lead the AI chipmaker while its board searches for a permanent successor. Colette Kress’s appointment as Nvidia’s interim CEO puts one of the company’s most experienced executives in charge during a major leadership transition.
Kress has served as Nvidia’s chief financial officer since September 2013. Before joining the company, she spent nearly 25 years working in finance at Microsoft, Cisco and Texas Instruments. She will retain her CFO responsibilities while serving as interim CEO.
Nvidia confirmed the appointment in its November 12 leadership announcement. The company also named longtime director Harvey C. Jones as its first board chair.
Who Is Colette Kress, Nvidia’s Interim CEO?
Kress, 59, is a veteran technology finance executive who joined Nvidia during its transition from graphics processors toward accelerated computing.
As CFO, she oversaw financial planning, reporting and capital management during Nvidia’s expansion into artificial intelligence. She also became a familiar presence on quarterly earnings calls alongside Huang.
Her official Nvidia biography details her finance leadership experience and responsibilities. Her LinkedIn profile provides an additional professional reference.
Unlike Huang, whose background is in electrical engineering and chip development, Kress built her career in corporate finance. Her appointment gives Nvidia a leader with extensive knowledge of its financial operations and customer relationships.
Colette Kress Previously Worked at Microsoft and Cisco
Kress began her technology career at Texas Instruments, where she spent approximately eight years in financial management positions.
She joined Microsoft in 1997 and remained there for 13 years. During that period, she held several corporate finance roles, including four years as CFO of Microsoft’s Server and Tools division.
The division managed enterprise software businesses, giving Kress experience with large technology customers and infrastructure products.
In 2010, she moved to Cisco as senior vice president and CFO of its Business Technology and Operations Finance organization. Her responsibilities included financial strategy, planning, reporting and business development across the company’s operations.
Nvidia appointed her executive vice president and CFO in 2013. At the time, the company was primarily known for graphics processors, gaming, and professional computing.
Education and Financial Background
Kress earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Her financial success has also attracted attention. Forbes ranked Kress among America’s richest self-made women in 2026, placing her at No. 32.
Forbes estimated her net worth at $1.2 billion as of June 3, 2026. The estimate reflected her Nvidia holdings and the company’s rising market value. It is not a current valuation of her wealth.
Her compensation has included equity awards tied to Nvidia’s stock performance. Such awards can fluctuate substantially in value as share prices change.
Colette Kress Nvidia Interim CEO Role Begins After Huang’s Exit
Kress takes over after Huang resigned as president, CEO and a board member following allegations involving his personal relationships. Nvidia’s independent directors are investigating reported concerns about potential exposure to foreign intelligence.
The allegations remain unproven, and Nvidia has not announced that Huang knowingly assisted any intelligence operation.
TechAmerica previously reported on Nvidia’s independent investigation and the company’s initial response to the allegations.
Jones, who has served on Nvidia’s board since 1993, will oversee the board during the leadership transition. Directors plan to consider internal and external candidates for the permanent CEO position.
Kress has not been appointed permanent chief executive, and Nvidia has not announced a timetable for completing its search.
What Kress Will Oversee at Nvidia
Nvidia is one of the world’s leading suppliers of processors used in artificial intelligence computing. Its products power data centers, AI model training, inference systems and high-performance computing applications.
Kress will oversee the company’s existing strategy while managing financial operations, customer commitments and relationships with major technology partners.
The transition also comes before Nvidia’s scheduled quarterly earnings announcement. Investors will watch for updates on financial performance, demand for AI infrastructure, and leadership succession.
Nvidia’s board has said it expects operations and product development to continue without interruption.
Kress brings more than three decades of technology finance experience to the interim position. Her immediate responsibility is to maintain business continuity while Nvidia’s board selects a permanent leader.
