Key facts
- Nvidia's board launched an independent investigation, overseen by independent directors and assisted by external legal counsel.
- Huang told employees he was unfaithful to his wife and took responsibility for the hurt he caused.
- Nvidia said it has no reason to believe national security or company secrets were compromised.
- Huang will continue as Nvidia CEO during the investigation, the company said.
- Trump described Huang as an honourable guy who has done an amazing job for the country.
Nvidia's board has launched an independent investigation into reports that chief executive Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation, the company said in a statement. The inquiry will be overseen by a committee of independent directors, assisted by external independent legal counsel, and Huang will continue as CEO during the investigation.
Huang told Nvidia employees in a draft email that he had an extramarital relationship. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did," he wrote. In a separate message, he said: "I take full responsibility for what I did and the hurt I caused, and I accept the criticism that comes with it." He asked for privacy for his family.
Nvidia said: "While the Board has no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised, the Board's inquiry will examine all available information." The company said its board considered US national and economic security paramount to Nvidia and its shareholders, and expressed confidence in Huang and his leadership team.
Huang has not directly addressed allegations that the woman at the center of the reports was gathering information for Beijing, according to the report. He has supported the investigation and committed to cooperate with it.
US President Donald Trump defended Huang, saying: "I think he's an honourable guy." Trump told reporters he had not spoken to Huang about the matter: "I just know he's a fine person, but you never know what is going on."