❯ Nvidia begins its CEO search: Arm chief reportedly approached, with Apple’s chip leader also discussed

An interim leader is in placeNvidia announced on November 12 that Jensen Huang had resigned as CEO, president and director, effective immediately. CFO Colette Kress became interim CEO while retaining her finance role. The board’s announcement said it would consider internal and external successors, with new chairman Harvey Jones leading the board; a permanent CEO has not been named.

Arm and Apple executives draw attentionAccording to Reuters, citing the Financial Times, directors approached Arm CEO Rene Haas, although neither an offer nor his acceptance is certain. Haas spent about seven years at Nvidia before joining Arm in 2013. Industry observers have also mentioned Apple chief hardware officer Johny Srouji, who led its custom-silicon work, but he has not been formally nominated.

The selection process is still taking shapeThe board subsequently said it was selecting a search firm and had not formally engaged any potential candidates, calling speculation premature. Internally discussed names include Kress and CUDA leader Ian Buck. Nvidia says customer commitments and its product roadmap will continue, while November 17 earnings will give interim management an important opportunity to address investors.

▮ SIGNALHuang combined technical direction, customer relationships and capital coordination; choosing a finance, engineering or external operating leader will also determine how Nvidia distributes those responsibilities in the future.