Jensen Huang weighs return as Nvidia CEO amid campaign by Silicon Valley allies: Report

Jensen Huang is considering a return as Nvidia CEO as Elon Musk and other Silicon Valley executives rally behind a campaign to reinstate him, according to the Financial Times. His allies are planning a lobbying push even as the company's board investigates allegations surrounding his resignation.Jensen Huang weighs Nvidia CEO comeback as allies rally support for his return. (Photo- Reuters)Former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is considering a comeback at the USD 4 trillion chipmaker, as influential Silicon Valley executives mount a campaign to persuade the company's board to reinstate him days after his resignation triggered a major leadership crisis, the Financial Times reported.Huang has discussed the possibility of returning with confidantes, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. Meanwhile, Nvidia's board is conducting an independent investigation into the conduct that led to his departure.His allies are also planning to step up efforts to secure his return, with one associate telling the Financial Times that they were assembling a "war room" of Silicon Valley executives to lobby the board and seek support from the White House. The initiative reportedly has Huang's backing.The campaign has gained momentum over the weekend, with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney among executives supporting a public letter demanding that Nvidia's board "Bring Jensen Back". Several Nvidia employees have also publicly expressed support for Huang's return, reflecting the loyalty he continues to command within parts of the company.However, the comeback effort could face resistance from key policymakers in Washington. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday called for a "dramatic shake-up" in Nvidia's leadership following Huang's departure. Huang also faces a changed leadership landscape at Nvidia, where interim CEO Colette Kress and the management team are attempting to stabilise the company ahead of its quarterly results on Tuesday. Unlike some founder-CEOs, Huang did not hold a controlling stake that would have allowed him to override the board's decisions.The controversy surrounding Huang has also raised questions about Nvidia's compliance procedures for selling artificial intelligence chips to customers in Asia with potential links to China. His reported affair with Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed, has intensified scrutiny of the company's safeguards.Even some supporters acknowledge that the allegations could complicate efforts to restore his reputation. "Having an affair with a subordinate is a fireable offence," one person involved in the reinstatement campaign told the FT.Meanwhile, Nvidia's board has reportedly approached Arm CEO Rene Haas as a potential successor, according to an earlier Financial Times report. However, the board has said that no "formal" process has been initiated.On Friday, Altimeter Capital founder Brad Gerstner and Atreides Management chief Gavin Baker, both Nvidia shareholders, published an open letter urging the board to keep all options open, including the possibility of Huang's return.The investors cited Huang's extraordinary leadership record and the uncertainty surrounding his departure as reasons for considering his reinstatement.Nvidia and Huang's representatives have declined to comment.- Ends