Apple, Alphabet and Uber survived major founder transitions. Nvidia will be a harder test

Nvidia co-founder and chief executive Jensen Huang has resigned suddenly amid reports of extramarital affairs, including an allegation involving a woman US intelligence believes is a Chinese spy. His departure comes as Nvidia powers the artificial intelligence boom, raising questions about how the company will maintain its leadership and direction without the person who built it.

Huang led Nvidia for 33 years, turning it into the world’s most valuable company. Chief financial officer Colette Kress is serving as interim CEO while the board searches for a successor; analysts say Huang’s charisma and drive will be difficult to replace. Management professor Michael Withers said the scandal and timing make the handover more challenging than a typical transition after a founder.