Nvidia's board was reportedly meeting on Wednesday to discuss the future of co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang following reports about his alleged relationship with a woman accused of spying for China, according to US media.
The 63-year-old technology executive, who has led the artificial intelligence giant since co-founding it in 1993, has faced reports of multiple alleged extramarital affairs, including one involving Alice Huang, a data centre executive accused by US intelligence of working for China's Ministry of State Security.
With Huang facing increased scrutiny and no known succession plan at Nvidia, attention has turned to potential candidates who could lead one of the world's most influential AI companies if the board decides to replace him.
Here are some of the names being discussed as possible successors.
Internal candidates
With more than 40,000 employees, Nvidia could choose an internal candidate, potentially from among Huang's senior executives.
Technology publications have frequently mentioned Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as a possible choice, given her position in the company's top leadership.
Another longtime executive is Ian Buck, who oversees Nvidia's data centre clients and played a key role in developing software that helps sustain demand for the company's chips.
Business magazine Inc. has also listed Bryan Catanzaro, Nvidia's vice president of applied deep learning research, as a potential candidate.
Family succession
Huang could also consider a family member as his successor.
His daughter, Madison Huang, is a senior director of product marketing at Nvidia and has been among the names suggested by analysts. She previously spent several years in marketing at luxury conglomerate LVMH.
His son, Spencer Huang, also works at Nvidia, where he is director of product management in the company's robotics division.
Another possible candidate is Huang's cousin, Lisa Su, who leads semiconductor giant AMD. She is his first cousin once removed and brings experience as the long-serving head of a major chipmaker.
Other technology executives
Su is not the only technology chief being discussed as a possible replacement.
Rene Haas, CEO of UK-based chip designer Arm, has also been mentioned by technology publications.
Former Apple CEO Tim Cook is another name circulating in Silicon Valley. He stepped down in August after leading the technology giant for 15 years.
