Nvidia Investigates Huang Relationship as Board Weighs Succession

Nvidia has retained former federal prosecutor Joon H. Kim and law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate CEO Jensen Huang’s relationship and whether foreign intelligence activity was involved, while reports say the board is examining succession options. No board decision on Huang’s future has been announced in the reporting, and the allegations remain under investigation.

Nvidia said Kim and the firm would conduct an independent investigation. The company also said it had no reason to believe its secrets or national security had been compromised. Beijing denied allegations that it operated an espionage effort targeting Huang.

Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the matter, reported that Nvidia’s board had engaged an outside firm to identify potential successors and was considering an interim chief executive while a permanent search proceeds. The succession account appeared in two reports but traces to the same underlying reporting, rather than independent confirmation. Possible candidates named in one account included finance chief Colette Kress, general counsel Tim Teter and operations chief Debora Shoquist.

A separate report, citing people familiar with board...