Trump Backs Tim Cook to Lead Nvidia After Jensen Huang's Exit, Colette Kress Named Interim CEO
US President Donald Trump has backed former Apple chief executive Tim Cook as the next chief executive officer of chipmaker Nvidia, following the major leadership change at the top of the company. Trump considers Cook the right person to succeed outgoing CEO Jensen Huang.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, Trump praised Jensen Huang's long contribution at the helm of Nvidia. At the same time, he proposed Tim Cook's name as Huang's successor.
In the post, Trump wrote that with Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, who did an extraordinary job, stepping down, there is only one person who can take his place, and that is Apple's Tim Cook. In Trump's words, one legend will be replaced by another legend.
Earlier, amid an independent investigation after allegations that he had been the target of foreign intelligence activity, Jensen Huang stepped down on Thursday with immediate effect from his roles as Nvidia's president, CEO and board member. Huang had led the company for 33 years.
After Huang's resignation, the company's chief financial officer (CFO), Colette Kress, has been given responsibility as interim CEO. Kress, who joined the company in 2013, will also continue to handle her finance department duties while serving as interim CEO.
Nvidia has said that in appointing a permanent CEO, candidates from both inside and outside the company will be considered. However, the company has not yet officially given details about the specific reason for Huang's resignation.
Earlier, the company's board had expressed full confidence in Huang, saying there was no reason to believe that US national security or the company's confidentiality had been compromised.
Meanwhile, concern is growing among US lawmakers over an alleged Chinese espionage operation and Nvidia's possible connection to it. Huang's resignation came amid a congressional investigation and review of the matter.
