Jensen Huang leaves Nvidia: who is his super-wealthy successor?

Following the sudden departure of Jensen Huang, chip giant Nvidia has appointed a new leader. Colette Kress, who has been responsible for the company's finances for over thirteen years, will temporarily take the helm. This means that a relatively unknown executive will be at the helm of one of the world's most important technology companies.

Kress is taking the helm at a particularly sensitive time. Nvidia plays a central role in the global rise of artificial intelligence, while Huang's departure creates considerable uncertainty. But who is the woman now being entrusted with responsibility for the multibillion-dollar company? Her impressive career and personal qualities tell a remarkable story.

Colette Kress is certainly no newcomer to the world of technology. Before joining NVIDIA in September 2013, she had already gained nearly 25 years of experience at some of the world's largest technology companies.

Her career began with financial positions at Texas Instruments, where she worked for about eight years. She then moved to Microsoft in 1997, where she would eventually stay for thirteen years.

At Microsoft, Kress rose to the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Server and Tools division. From 2006 onwards, she was responsible for financial strategy, planning and reporting there. This gave her experience in the business technology operations of an international corporation.

In 2010, she moved to Cisco, where she was appointed to a senior financial management position. Three years later, she moved to Nvidia, which at the time was still considerably smaller than the tech giants she had previously worked for.

In a 2024 interview with Fortune, Kress said that when she joined, NVIDIA was actually the smallest company she had ever worked for.

Her education is closely aligned with her career. She holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University.

The figures show how much Nvidia has changed since Kress joined the company. In the fiscal year in which she started, annual revenue was $4.13 billion. In fiscal year 2026, this had risen to no less than $215.9 billion.

This means that revenue increased by more than 52 times during that period. In particular, the explosive demand for powerful chips for AI applications has given Nvidia a huge boost in recent years.

As CFO, Kress played a key role in guiding that growth. She led the financial organization and was closely involved in the company’s strategy and investments. She also regularly appeared alongside Huang during the presentation of quarterly results.

Among other things, she was involved in the financial side of Nvidia’s investments and partnerships within the AI sector. The company invests substantial sums in the broader AI ecosystem, including agreements with customers.

Her years of involvement make her a familiar face among Nvidia’s top executives. Nevertheless, the transition to the highest executive position is significant. As interim CEO, she is now also responsible for the overall management of the company.

Kress has not only built an impressive career but also amassed considerable personal wealth.

According to the American business publication Forbes, she will rank 32nd among the wealthiest American women who have built their wealth themselves in 2026.

Her stake in Nvidia was worth approximately $750 million based on Wednesday's closing price. Last month, when the stock reached its peak, its value was still over $1 billion.

In addition to her shareholding, Kress receives remuneration in the form of share options. An award from March 2026 will be definitively granted over four years, provided that the conditions are met.

For the time being, she is combining her new position with her existing role as Chief Financial Officer. Nvidia has now begun the search for a permanent successor to Huang. Both internal and external candidates are being considered.

The new CEO, Harvey Jones, has expressed his confidence in Kress and the existing management team. Nvidia expects business operations, customer engagements, and the development of new technology to continue without interruption.

On Tuesday, November 17, Nvidia will present its quarterly results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2027. This means that an important moment for Kress in her new role will follow within just a few days.