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When tech founders leave, what happens to their companies?

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The chipmaker appointed longtime executive Colette Kress as interim chief executive and introduced Harvey Jones as its first-ever board chair to steady leadership. Jensen Huang had continuously steered Nvidia since founding it in 1993, but analysts now project the company could shed 25 to 30 percent of its market valuation. His exit mirrors broader industry anxieties, illustrated by Tesla retaining Elon Musk despite controversial politics and a 13 percent drop in vehicle deliveries during 2025's first quarter.

Key points

  • Analysts project Nvidia could shed between 25 and 30 percent of its market value without…: Analysts project Nvidia could shed between 25 and 30 percent of its market value without Jensen Huang leading the company.
  • Successor executives historically struggle to match the long-term corporate performance a…: Successor executives historically struggle to match the long-term corporate performance achieved by original technology company founders.
  • Board members at rival firms like Tesla have historically tolerated executive controversi…: Board members at rival firms like Tesla have historically tolerated executive controversies to avoid the steep costs of removing prominent founder figures.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Nvidia could lose 30 percent of its value following cofounder Jensen Huang’s decision to step down, analysts warns.

In the wake of Jensen Huang’s resignation as CEO of the artificial intelligence giant Nvidia, the company has brought in a new interim chief, Colette Kress, who has been with the company since 2013.

Along with Kress, the AI bellwether appointed its first-ever board chair, Harvey Jones, a venture investor with three decades of tech industry experience.

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The changes mark a major overhaul of Nvidia’s corporate structure and leadership, which Huang has dominated since cofounding the AI chipmaker in 1993. A powerful figure in Silicon Valley, he stepped down on Thursday following reports of his affairs with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative and two employees that have drawn scrutiny from United States lawmakers, the company’s…

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