Nvidia’s CEO search has entered a critical stage following Jensen Huang’s departure, with President Donald Trump publicly backing former Apple chief Tim Cook as his preferred successor. The chipmaker has appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while its board evaluates internal and external candidates.
Huang stepped down as chief executive and a board member on November 12 after reports about his personal relationships raised questions about corporate governance and national security. His departure ends more than three decades of leadership at the company he co-founded, creating uncertainty over the future direction of one of the artificial intelligence industry’s most influential businesses.
Trump Backs Tim Cook for Nvidia’s Leadership
Trump endorsed Cook in a social media post Thursday, praising Huang’s achievements while arguing that the former Apple CEO should replace him. Cook stepped down as Apple’s chief executive in September after 15 years and now serves as executive chairman.
Cook’s experience managing a global technology company makes him a prominent name in the succession debate. During his tenure, Apple expanded its services business, strengthened its supply chain and grew into one of the world’s most valuable companies. However, running Nvidia would require a different combination of semiconductor expertise, artificial intelligence strategy and customer relationships.
Trump’s endorsement does not establish Cook as a formal candidate. Nvidia has not announced a shortlist, and the appointment ultimately rests with its board. According to Reuters’ reporting on the succession search, investors are looking for a leader with technical knowledge, financial judgment and experience overseeing a large organization.
Colette Kress and Ian Buck Lead Internal Discussion
Kress offers continuity during the transition. She has served as Nvidia’s finance chief for more than a decade and brings experience managing investor relationships, capital allocation, and thecompany’ss expanding financial commitments across the AI industry.
Her appointment gives Nvidia an experienced executive at the top while directors consider a permanent replacement. However, an interim appointment does not necessarily indicate who will ultimately receive the position.
Another prominent internal name is Ian Buck, an Nvidia executive closely associated with developing CUDA, the computing platform that helped establish the company’s position in accelerated computing. Buck’s engineering background and understanding of AI infrastructure could appeal to directors seeking technical continuity.
His expertise would be particularly relevant as Nvidia competes to supply increasingly complex AI systems. The challenge would be translating that technical experience into broader corporate leadership across finance, government relations and global operations.
External Candidates Could Expand the Nvidia CEO Search
Several experienced semiconductor executives have also emerged in public discussions about Nvidia’s next leader. They include Arm CEO Rene Haas, AMD CEO Lisa Su, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and Marvell CEO Matt Murphy.
Haas brings semiconductor design and management experience, including previous work at Nvidia. Su has overseen AMD’s expansion in processors and data-center computing, while Gelsinger has extensive experience in semiconductor engineering and corporate leadership.
Other names discussed include Apple’s hardware chief Johny Srouji, whose background in custom chip development could make him relevant to the search. These individuals remain speculative possibilities unless Nvidia or the executives involved confirm formal discussions.
Prediction markets have also attracted attention as traders assess potential successors. Buck, Kress, Haas and Cook have appeared among the names receiving interest. Those market probabilities reflect trading sentiment rather than verified information about the board’s deliberations.
Why Replacing Jensen Huang Is a Major Challenge
Huang played an unusually central role in Nvidia’s technology strategy, business partnerships and public identity. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a graphics-chip specialist into a major supplier of processors, networking systems and software used to develop artificial intelligence.
Its competitive position depends on more than chip performance. Nvidia’s CUDA software ecosystem, developer tools and relationships with major computing customers have become important parts of its business. A successor must understand how those elements work together.
The leadership change also comes as investors scrutinize the enormous sums being committed to AI infrastructure. Nvidia’s next chief executive will need to balance aggressive technological development with financial discipline and changing geopolitical restrictions.
The company’s relationships with governments are another consideration. Export controls, advanced semiconductor supply chains and access to the Chinese market have become major strategic issues, making regulatory experience increasingly important for its leadership.
What Happens Next for Nvidia?
Nvidia’s board has said it will consider candidates from inside and outside the company. No permanent successor or appointment timetable has been announced.
Kress will oversee the business during the search, while investors watch for indications of whether the board prioritizes engineering expertise, operational experience or financial leadership. The eventual appointment will shape Nvidia’s strategy at a time when competition and spending across artificial intelligence continue to intensify.
Cook’s public endorsement has drawn unusual political attention to the process, but the central question remains: which executive can sustain Nvidia’s technological leadership without the founder who helped build it? Until the board announces its decision, the names circulating in the succession debate remain possibilities rather than confirmed appointments.
