Tech Leaders Rally Behind Jensen Huang

Silicon Valley executives and investors are rallying behind Jensen Huang after he resigned as Nvidia’s chief executive on Thursday, following revelations of affairs with an employee and a woman U.S. officials believed to be a Chinese spy. They argue that losing him could weaken the company and set back the United States in the artificial intelligence race, while criticising Nvidia’s board for accepting his departure.

Nvidia supplies an estimated 90 per cent of the advanced chips used in major AI projects, and supporters credit Huang with building its reach through deal-making and relationships. Investors Brad Gerstner and Gavin Baker urged the board to consider all options, including his return; an open letter calling for his reinstatement and an independent investigation had nearly 100,000 signatures by Saturday morning. Other technology leaders said the episode raises questions about corporate governance and the power boards hold over founders.