Why Tech Leaders Rally Behind Jensen Huang After His Nvidia Exit
Supporters question the board’s response
Executives and investors have urged Nvidia’s board to reconsider Huang’s departure. They described him as an unusually important leader and warned that losing him could weaken the company’s position in the artificial intelligence race.
Brad Gerstner of Altimeter Capital Management and Gavin Baker of Atreides Management wrote to the board on Friday. The Nvidia shareholders asked directors to consider every option, including Huang’s possible return, and cautioned against a rushed replacement that could harm shareholders.
Musk points to supply deals
Elon Musk, SpaceX’s chief executive, said Nvidia’s supply-chain relationships depended in part on Huang personally. In a Saturday social media post, Musk warned that “some of those critical deals will be lost” without him.
The support has drawn attention to Nvidia’s influence in the artificial intelligence boom. The company controls an estimated 90 percent of the market for advanced chips used in major AI projects, according to the article.
Open letter seeks Huang’s return
An open letter called “Stand With Jensen” asks Nvidia’s board to reinstall Huang as chief executive. It also calls for an independent investigation and an explanation of the board’s actions.
Nearly 100,000 people had signed by Saturday morning, including current and former Nvidia employees, business partners, start-up leaders and shareholders. Garry Tan, chief executive of venture capital firm Y Combinator, was among the signatories.
Key points
- Huang resigned as Nvidia’s chief executive on Thursday after revelations about two affairs.
- Executives and investors say his leadership matters to Nvidia and the U.S. AI race.
- Musk warned that some Nvidia supply deals could be lost without Huang.
- An open letter calling for Huang’s return had nearly 100,000 signatures by Saturday morning.