Following this morning's stunning news of Jensen Huang's departure after his infidelity with two women, questions about NVIDIA's next leader have shifted from routine succession planning to whether the company can sustain its rapid pace without the founder-CEO who shaped it.
Tae Kim, author of The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant, answered that question with guarded optimism. Kim told investors and observers that NVIDIA possesses sufficient leadership depth and institutional strength to move forward. Still, he urged the board to narrow its search to two primary candidates: Rene Haas and Ian Buck.
Rene Haas - an executive familiar with NVIDIA's culture
Kim's preferred candidate is Rene Haas, who currently serves as CEO of Arm Holdings and previously held executive roles at NVIDIA. Kim highlighted several attributes that make Haas a compelling choice: technical comprehension of the industry, extensive executive experience and a leadership style that aligns with NVIDIA's culture.
At Arm, Haas has led a major technology company outside of NVIDIA, demonstrating capability in a chief executive role. Kim emphasized that Haas's prior tenure within NVIDIA gives him familiarity with the company's senior leadership and norms, an advantage during any leadership transition. According to Kim, former NVIDIA employees who worked with Haas speak positively of his management and enjoyed being on his teams.
Appointing Haas, Kim argued, would deliver continuity without attempting to replicate Jensen Huang's exact leadership persona. His public presence and prior executive experience, Kim said, could reassure investors, staff, customers and partners that NVIDIA remains in experienced hands.
Ian Buck - the engineering steward of NVIDIA's technological identity
Kim positioned Ian Buck as the alternative candidate, representing the company’s technical core. Buck is NVIDIA's vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing. Kim pointed to Buck's central role in the company's technology story: he created CUDA, the software platform that converted GPUs into engines for accelerated computing and AI development.
Today, Buck oversees products and technologies used by major cloud providers and other large customers. Kim noted that Buck's engineering expertise, established customer relationships and the respect he holds among employees are qualities that could guide NVIDIA through future growth phases.
Selecting Buck, Kim suggested, would signal that NVIDIA intends to keep innovation and product engineering at the heart of its strategy.
Retaining Jonah Alben - an engineering priority
Beyond the choice of chief executive, Kim identified retention of Jonah Alben, NVIDIA's senior vice president of GPU engineering, as a critical board priority. Alben plays a central role in shaping GPU architecture and long-term product roadmaps. Kim believes that keeping Alben, alongside a new CEO such as Buck or Haas, would help prevent disruption to the company’s technology development.
In Kim's framing, the board’s responsibility extends beyond naming a successor. It must also safeguard the engineering leadership that underpins NVIDIA’s competitive advantage.
Outlook and wider considerations
Kim acknowledged that Huang's exit closes a defining chapter of leadership at NVIDIA, but he maintained that the company’s success does not have to be linked to a single individual. Demand for AI computing remains very strong, Kim said, and NVIDIA’s technology, talent and customer relationships provide a solid base for continued progress.
Kim did note, however, that political pressure, regulatory developments or shifts in international markets could slow expansion. Even with those potential headwinds, he believes the fundamental opportunity around AI computing is substantial.
Kim's message to the NVIDIA board was straightforward: prioritize Rene Haas or Ian Buck for the CEO role, retain Jonah Alben in GPU engineering, and preserve the company’s technological direction. In his view, Huang built the company, but NVIDIA’s future can continue under new leadership if the board makes the right choices.
What remains the board's challenge
Kim framed the board's task as twofold: identify which of the two candidates best balances continuity and innovation, and ensure key engineering talent remains in place to execute on the product roadmap. His assessment leaves the board with a constrained set of options and a clear set of priorities focused on leadership continuity and technological stewardship.
For investors, employees and partners watching the transition, those priorities will likely shape perceptions about NVIDIA's ability to maintain its momentum in AI and high-performance computing.