An Israel Connection? Nvidia's New CEO Is Fueling Online Conspiracy Theories

Nvidia's leadership shake-up has sparked online speculation, with some questioning whether the company's close ties to Israel could have played a role in the departure of former CEO Jensen Huang.

Huang, who co-founded the AI chip giant and led it for 33 years, stepped down on 12 Nov 2026 amid reports of alleged extramarital relationships, including one involving a Chinese businesswoman suspected by US intelligence officials of having links to Beijing.

His departure saw longtime chief financial officer Colette Kress appointed as interim CEO, while the company searches for a permanent successor.

This has drawn attention to Kress's longstanding working relationship with Nvidia's Israeli operations.

In a 2023 interview with Israeli publication Globes, Kress revealed that her workday typically begins with meetings involving Nvidia's Israeli executives before moving on to discussions with colleagues in California.

She also spoke favourably about Nvidia's US$6.9 billion acquisition of Israeli chipmaker Mellanox Technologies in 2019, which strengthened the company's networking capabilities.

This has led to some social media users suggesting that Kress's appointment could signal greater Israeli influence within Nvidia. Some went further, alleging that Huang was deliberately pushed out.

Others, meanwhile, have brushed off the claims as unfounded conspiracy theories. There is no publicly established evidence that Israel or pro-Israel executives orchestrated Huang's departure.

Israel remains an important hub for Nvidia, with approximately 6,000 employees and its largest research and development centre outside the United States. The company is also planning a major new campus near Haifa that could accommodate up to 10,000 employees.

Huang had also previously described Israel as Nvidia's 'second home"

This comes amid accusations from China that the US is using espionage allegations involving Nvidia chief Jensen Huang to justify tighter restrictions on its access to advanced technology.

On 12 Nov, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning dismissed the allegations as unfounded, urging Washington to stop using what she described as fabricated spying narratives to impose a technological “blockade" on China.