Nvidia’s board has reportedly approached Arm CEO Rene Haas as part of its search for a new CEO following Jensen Huang’s resignation. The Financial Times reported on November 13 that Haas is among several executives under consideration. No formal appointment has been announced, and it remains unclear whether he would accept the position.
The reported outreach comes as Nvidia faces a difficult leadership transition after Huang’s departure on November 12. Huang, who co-founded the semiconductor company in 1993, resigned amid scrutiny over reports concerning his personal conduct. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has taken over as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement.
Why Rene Haas Is Being Considered in Nvidia CEO Search
Haas has extensive semiconductor industry experience and previously worked at Nvidia for about seven years. Before joining Arm in 2013, he served as vice president and general manager of Nvidia’s computing products business. His earlier role gave him direct experience with the company’s technology and leadership structure.
He became Arm’s chief executive in February 2022 and subsequently oversaw the company’s return to public markets in 2023. Arm develops and licenses processor architectures used in smartphones, computers and data centers. Its technology also supports Nvidia’s expanding portfolio of central processing units for artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Haas’s background could make him an attractive candidate for a company seeking both technical expertise and leadership experience. However, his history at Nvidia does not make him the board’s preferred choice. The reported discussions remain preliminary, and the board is also evaluating other candidates.
Arm and Nvidia Have a Complicated Business Relationship
A potential move would carry implications for both companies. Nvidia uses Arm-based processor technology in its data center systems, while Arm has been expanding its involvement in artificial intelligence computing. That relationship makes Haas familiar with technologies central to Nvidia’s future growth.
The companies also share a significant corporate history. Nvidia announced plans to acquire Arm in 2020, but abandoned the proposed $40 billion transaction in February 2022 after regulatory opposition. Arm later completed its initial public offering under Haas’s leadership.
More recently, Arm has moved beyond its traditional licensing business into developing processors for data center customers. That expansion creates areas of potential competition with Nvidia. Any recruitment of Haas would therefore raise questions about leadership continuity at Arm and the companies’ commercial relationship.
Colette Kress Leads Nvidia During the Transition
Kress, Nvidia’s chief financial officer since 2013, currently leads the company. Her appointment provides continuity while the board assesses internal and external candidates. The board has not announced a timetable for selecting a permanent chief executive.
Other executives discussed as possible successors include Nvidia technology leader Ian Buck and AMD CEO Lisa Su. Buck has played an important role in Nvidia’s GPU computing technology, while Su has extensive experience leading a major semiconductor company. Their inclusion in public speculation does not establish that either has received a formal offer.
The board faces a decision extending beyond the immediate leadership vacancy. Nvidia’s next chief executive will inherit a complex business spanning AI accelerators, networking hardware, software platforms and large-scale computing systems. Maintaining customer relationships and managing regulatory scrutiny will also be important responsibilities.
Nvidia and Arm Shares React to Leadership Uncertainty
The report added to investor uncertainty surrounding the semiconductor industry. Reuters reported that Arm’s U.S.-listed shares were down more than 5% on Friday, November 13, while Nvidia shares had declined more than 3% at the time of its report. Those figures reflected trading conditions during the session, not final closing prices.
Arm declined to comment on the reported approach. Nvidia did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, and Reuters said it could not independently verify the Financial Times report. Neither company had publicly confirmed an agreement involving Haas.
For Nvidia, the immediate priority is maintaining operational stability while its directors identify a permanent leader. Haas’s semiconductor experience and previous connection to Nvidia make him a notable reported contender, but the outcome remains uncertain. Until the board announces its decision, Kress will continue overseeing the company’s operations.
