NVIDIA board investigation into reports of foreign intelligence targeting CEO Jensen Huang, Digi Mart USA News: The NVIDIA board of directors said Sunday it will launch an independent investigation after reports that Chief Executive Jensen Huang had been targeted by foreign intelligence services. The board said the review will examine the reports concerning the intelligence operation against the CEO.
The New York Times and the Financial Times reported that Huang had a relationship with Chinese businessperson Alice Huang. According to both outlets, Alice Huang had reportedly been recruited to conduct espionage for China.
NBC News said it had not confirmed either report and had asked the Trump administration for comment.
In a statement, NVIDIA said the board is opening an independent investigation given recent reports that founder and CEO Jensen Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence operation. A committee of independent directors will oversee the investigation with the assistance of outside independent legal advisers.
The company said there is no reason to believe national security or NVIDIA’s confidential information has been compromised, and the board will review all available information.
The New York Times and Financial Times reported that Alice Huang is a Chinese citizen whose company, registered in Singapore, was purchasing advanced NVIDIA chips at the time. She had been monitored by U.S.
intelligence agencies, which reportedly found that China’s top intelligence agency had recruited her for espionage. The New York Times reported Sunday that concerns inside the U.S.
government about Alice Huang and Jensen Huang had risen to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Financial Times reported Friday that the U.S.
government believed the two were in a romantic relationship.
In a company memo shared with NBC News, Jensen Huang said he had been unfaithful to his wife and that his actions had hurt his wife and children. The Financial Times reported that NVIDIA declined to comment on its reporting and said Huang, like other chief executives, meets with “thousands of executives from customer companies” each year.
In the memo, Huang apologized to his wife and family, expressing hope they could move past the pain and that he could regain their trust. He also told colleagues, the board, partners and shareholders that he had not fulfilled his responsibilities and pledged to continue serving NVIDIA.
An NVIDIA spokesperson told NBC News that “today’s news will not slow” the company, and that Huang “will continue as NVIDIA’s CEO without interruption, leading the company forward.”
