Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is facing allegations of a second extramarital affair after reports identified Kimberly Powell, the company’s vice president of healthcare, as a former romantic partner. The claims emerged on November 11, adding to an ongoing controversy involving another woman, Alice Huang, who has been accused by American intelligence officials of having connections to Chinese intelligence.
The 63-year-old billionaire, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, has already acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife, Lori Huang. The additional allegations involving Powell have increased pressure on Nvidia’s leadership, with the company’s board reportedly considering whether Huang should remain chief executive.
Jensen Huang’s Second Alleged Affair With Kimberly Powell
The reported relationship between Jensen Huang and Kimberly Powell was disclosed after five people who worked at Nvidia described the alleged affair.
Powell, 48, has worked at Nvidia since 2008 and serves as vice president of healthcare. She oversees initiatives involving artificial intelligence, medical imaging, life sciences and healthcare technology.
According to the reporting, Huang and Powell were seen behaving affectionately at a hotel in San Jose, California, during Nvidia’s annual GTC developer conference in March.
Three people familiar with the incident said a bystander recorded the interaction on a mobile phone. Huang’s security personnel allegedly approached the individual and requested that they sign a nondisclosure agreement.
The reported relationship had been discussed among employees at Nvidia. However, neither Huang nor Powell has publicly confirmed the allegations.
When contacted about his relationship with Powell, Huang said, “I don’t think you should be talking to me directly.” He then ended the conversation.
Who Is Kimberly Powell and Is She Married?
Kimberly Powell is a senior Nvidia executive who has spent nearly two decades working at the semiconductor company.
She joined Nvidia in 2008 and was promoted to senior director of AI business development in 2016. By late 2017, she had become vice president of healthcare, a position involving the company’s expanding use of artificial intelligence in medical research and technology.
Powell is married to Graham “Grady” Gerade, 54, and the couple has two children. They reportedly live in a modernist mansion in Northern California.
Her husband has maintained a private life, and little information about his professional background has been publicly documented.
Powell has not issued a public statement addressing the alleged affair. Nvidia also declined to comment when approached about the reported relationship.
Jensen Huang’s Earlier Affair With Alice Huang
The allegations involving Powell follow a separate controversy concerning Jensen Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le.
Alice Huang is a Chinese businesswoman who previously worked with Megaspeed, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence infrastructure company.
American officials suspect that she had connections to China’s Ministry of State Security and may have been involved in efforts to obtain sensitive information about advanced semiconductor technology.
The Chinese government has denied the espionage allegations.
Megaspeed reportedly purchased approximately $4.8 billion worth of Nvidia chips over two years. The company has faced scrutiny over concerns that restricted American semiconductor technology may have been transferred to China.
Following reports about his relationship with Alice Huang, Jensen Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in a message to Nvidia employees.
“I owe my family and all of you an apology,” Huang wrote. “I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”
Huang has been married to Lori Huang since 1985. The couple met while studying at Oregon State University and have two children.
Nvidia Board Considers Jensen Huang’s Future
The allegations have created uncertainty surrounding Huang’s position at Nvidia, the technology company he helped establish more than three decades ago.
On November 11, reports indicated that Nvidia’s board was preparing to meet to discuss whether Huang should remain chief executive.
The board had already launched an independent investigation into whether Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is overseeing that review.
The allegations involving Powell have also raised questions about Nvidia’s workplace conduct policies, particularly rules addressing personal relationships that could create conflicts of interest.
The controversy has affected investor confidence. Nvidia shares fell approximately 8% in after-hours trading on November 11, following reports about the second alleged affair and Huang’s uncertain leadership position.
American lawmakers have also sought answers about Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang and whether sensitive information or national security interests were compromised.
As of November 12, Nvidia has not publicly announced Huang’s removal as chief executive. The board’s investigation remains ongoing, while Powell has not publicly commented on the reported relationship.
Leave a Reply