Jensen Huang Affair: Would Nvidia Fire You?

Would you still be signing on Monday?

Put your name on a $10,000 customer deal. You have a personal relationship with one of the customer’s executives. Now the account needs a price exception. Are you still the person who gets to sign?

I’ve led sales teams. I’d pull the approval trail before another order went through. Try walking into that meeting with a public vote of confidence in your pocket.

Page seven tells you to step aside

Nvidia’s Code of Conduct tells employees to step away from decisions immediately when an actual or potential conflict arises. It directs people to Employment Legal for guidance when a situation could present an apparent or actual conflict. On that $10,000 deal, someone else would need to make the call.

Page five says a violation can cost someone their job. The name on the code’s opening letter? Jensen Huang.

Alice Huang and the chip customer

The Financial Times cited a U.S. government memo describing a romantic relationship between Jensen Huang and Alice Huang, who held an executive role at Megaspeed. According to The New York Times, he acknowledged the relationship to Nvidia’s board. His email to employees named nobody.

Megaspeed is a Singapore cloud provider and Nvidia customer. It rents out computing power built on Nvidia chips.

In late October, Huang told Bloomberg: “Our relationship, our interactions, have been related to Megaspeed, and it was all completely normal and not unusual.” He also said Alice Huang was no longer with the company.

Reuters could not independently verify her current employment and reported that she did not respond when The Times first reported the relationship.

U.S. authorities have investigated whether Megaspeed helped restricted chips reach China. Megaspeed denied illegal transfers. Nvidia told Bloomberg its review found no evidence of chip diversion.

The intelligence allegation reached Congress

The Times says U.S. intelligence concluded Beijing recruited Alice Huang to gather information on Jensen Huang. Beijing denies the allegation. Reuters could not independently verify the Times’ claims.

The three House committee chairs requested a private briefing on November 18. They asked about Huang’s interactions with Alice Huang and how Nvidia protects itself against espionage. Nvidia’s earnings call is November 17.

The board backed Huang. Who signs next?

The board said it had no reason to believe Nvidia’s secrets or U.S. national security were compromised. Its November 8 statement did not say whether Huang took part in Megaspeed decisions or whether he stepped away from them.

Intel’s Brian Krzanich resigned in 2018 after Intel confirmed he had violated its policy on relationships with employees. Nvidia’s inquiry remains open.

The board can answer the same questions your boss would ask you. Did Huang approve any Megaspeed business? Who has the authority to approve the next deal?

Sources and evidence

1. Nvidia: Huang’s November 8 email. His admission and promise to cooperate.
2. Nvidia: November 8 board statement. The scope of the investigation and the board’s position.
3. Nvidia Code of Conduct. Conflicts of interest on page seven and discipline on page five.
4. Financial Times: the U.S. government memo. Reporting on the relationship.
5. The New York Times, via The Philadelphia Inquirer. Reporting on the board disclosure and intelligence assessment.
6. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The government’s response to the allegation.
7. Reuters: Nvidia investigation explainer. The U.S. inquiry into chip transfers, Alice Huang’s lack of response to the initial Times report and what Reuters could not independently verify.
8. Bloomberg: the Megaspeed hardware imports. Customs records and prior scrutiny of Nvidia’s customer.
9. Bloomberg: Huang’s earlier remarks. Huang’s full October quote, his account of Alice Huang’s departure and Nvidia’s statement about its chip diversion review.
10. Hindustan Times: Megaspeed’s statement. The customer’s denial of illegal transfers.
11. Intel: Brian Krzanich’s resignation. Intel’s finding about its employee relationship policy.
12. Nvidia: Board of Directors. Nvidia’s listing of Jensen Huang as a director and chief executive.
13. House committee chairs: briefing request. The letter, proposed date and questions.
14. Nvidia: next earnings call. The company’s November 17 schedule.
15. The Grind Hotline editorial standards. How we source and correct our reporting.

Download the evidence ledger. It lists the source and limits of each claim.

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