‘If you believe in the mission, bring back THE boss’ — Nvidia employees petition for Jensen Huang’s return, saying ‘Nvidia is Nvidia because of him’
Nvidia employees rally behind Jensen Huang as calls grow for his return to lead them once again
USA: Some Nvidia employees want their former boss, Jensen Huang, back, despite allegations about his personal life that preceded his departure.
An internal staff discussion has drawn more than 1,600 comments, with many workers expressing support for the 63-year-old founder and calling on the board to reconsider his exit. The discussion began with a suggestion-box submission from a longtime engineer. The employee urged the board to consider staff sentiment before making major decisions about Huang’s future.
One anonymous employee made the demand particularly direct: “If you believe in the mission, bring back THE boss”. Another said Huang had made mistakes but deserved another chance because of his contributions to the company, American magazine WIRED reported (Nov 12).
Staff question the circumstances of Huang’s departure
Support has also extended beyond the internal discussion. One employee sent a companywide email demanding greater transparency about Huang’s exit.
The staff member said supporting fairness didn’t mean abandoning someone whose leadership had meant so much to the company. He’s “someone whose leadership has meant so much to us,” the staff wrote, while another exclaimed, “If America fails the man who helped build its future, then this world does not deserve Jensen Huang.”
Another Nvidia employee, who had worked there for several years but wasn't authorised to speak publicly, said that support for Huang's return appeared widespread. The employee feared the company could suffer without its founder’s leadership.
“Nvidia is Nvidia because of Jensen,” an employee said
About two dozen employees had also expressed support for Huang on LinkedIn following his departure, with none identified as supporting his resignation during the same period.
Huang’s departure followed reports of multiple alleged extramarital affairs. In an email to employees on Sunday, he acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and said there was no excuse for his actions.
The admission followed reports of an alleged affair involving a suspected Chinese intelligence asset. The board announced his resignation on Thursday, after reports of another alleged affair involving a direct report.
Reuters subsequently reported another alleged relationship involving an Nvidia employee. Huang hasn't publicly addressed these later reports.
Nvidia appointed chief financial officer Colette Kress as interim CEO, while former Synopsys CEO Harvey Jones became board chair.
The controversy has also affected the company's standing. Nvidia lost US$1 trillion in market value after the allegations surfaced. US lawmakers and the FBI have also launched investigations, while possible new chip export controls have added to the uncertainty.
Nvidia's board faces pressure from its own employees
Many employees had expected the board to complete its investigation before making major changes. The original suggestion-box submission had asked for the findings to be shared with staff.
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Instead, Huang departed as the inquiry was beginning, leaving employees seeking answers about the decision.
The board now faces an uncomfortable challenge: addressing staff concerns while dealing with serious allegations involving its former leader.
Loyalty to a founder can be powerful, especially when employees associate a company’s success with one person. Nvidia’s next chapter will depend on more than whether Huang returns.
The board must now address employees’ concerns and explain why Huang’s departure happened before the investigation was completed. Whatever the outcome, its priority should be transparency, accountability and a fair process for everyone involved.