Nvidia's newly appointed interim chief executive, Colette Kress, and board chair Harvey Jones emailed employees on Thursday, hours after founder Jensen Huang resigned as CEO, striking a tone of gratitude and optimism about the company's direction. CNBC obtained copies of the messages from a source familiar with the matter, who said Jones sent his email first and Kress followed shortly after.
Kress, who has served as Nvidia's chief financial officer for more than 13 years, acknowledged the upheaval directly in her note to staff. "The Board, Estaff and I recognize that this has been an extraordinarily difficult period and I want you to know how grateful we are for your resilience, professionalism and continued dedication," she wrote. The term Estaff is commonly used to describe executive staff, the direct reports to a company's C-suite leaders.
In her email, addressed to "NVIDIANs," Kress said she believes deeply in the company and its future, and in its employees, customers and partners, along with what she described as the vital role Nvidia plays each day in the global economy. She told staff they are the company's greatest strength and credited its achievements to the work they bring every single day.
Kress also pointed employees to what lies ahead, telling them they would hear more from leadership in the coming days. Nvidia will hold a company meeting on November 18 at 9 a.m. PT, according to her email. "We play a vital role in building the technology that is powering the AI revolution, and we have important work ahead of us," she wrote, urging staff to move forward together with the determination and commitment that have always defined the company.
Jones, who said he will serve as the first-ever chair of Nvidia's board, used his email to formally announce the leadership transition. He told employees that Huang had resigned as CEO and board member, and that the board had asked Kress to serve as interim CEO while it searches for a permanent successor, considering both internal and external candidates.
The board chair praised Kress as "a key architect of NVIDIA's growth and capital strategy," noting her deep understanding of the business and its markets. "The Board has full confidence in Colette to deliver on our commitments to shareholders, customers, partners, and to each of you," he wrote.
Jones also paid tribute to Huang's legacy at the company he founded, describing his contributions as profound. He wrote that Nvidia pioneered accelerated computing, defined the modern GPU and built the platform that powered artificial intelligence, calling it one of the most consequential technology companies in the world.
Closing his message, Jones said the board takes seriously its duty as steward of the company, and that Nvidia's strength lies in its employees, leadership team, technical capabilities and partner ecosystem. He expressed confidence that under Kress's leadership, with the board's full support, Nvidia will continue to grow its business and lead the industry forward, thanking employees for their focus, professionalism and commitment.
