Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is facing a fresh round of affair allegations, this time involving a senior executive inside the chipmaker. The New York Times reported that some former employees said Huang had a relationship with Kimberly Powell, who runs Nvidia’s health care business. Both are married to other people. The report has not been independently confirmed.
The GTC hotel account
According to the report, two Nvidia employees said Huang and Powell were seen interacting affectionately at a hotel during Nvidia’s GTC developer conference in San Jose. The newspaper said it did not see the video that was described. Three people familiar with the incident said a person in the crowd recorded the two on a phone. They said Huang’s security team noticed, took the person aside, and made an offer that would stop the disclosure. It is not known whether the offer was written down or what happened to the recording. That gap matters. The account is serious, but key details remain unverified.
Company policy and board questions
Powell joined Nvidia in 2008. She became a senior director for business development in artificial intelligence in 2016 and a vice president of health care in late 2017. At GTC, she gave a presentation on AI in biology and medicine and showed Huang in cartoon form. Nvidia’s code of conduct asks employees to avoid situations where their actions create a conflict. Personal relationships are listed among the issues. The policy also says the company promptly investigates reports of misconduct. Many firms restrict romantic relationships between managers and subordinates. It is not clear whether Nvidia’s board is investigating the new allegation involving Powell.
China inquiry adds pressure
The new claim comes as Huang’s ties to Alice Huang, a Chinese executive U.S. intelligence officials have identified as a Chinese asset, are under scrutiny. China denies espionage charges. After Huang acknowledged an affair with Alice, Nvidia’s board ordered an investigation by law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Republican chairmen of three House committees have also asked for a private meeting with Huang about his communications with Alice. Nvidia is a major supplier of chips for AI applications, so the questions reach beyond personal conduct. When a reporter called Huang on Wednesday about Kimberly Powell, he did not answer. He told the reporter he did not think the reporter should be talking to him directly, then ended the call.
