Synopsis:
- Elon Musk has publicly backed an online petition seeking Jensen Huang’s reinstatement as NVIDIA CEO, stating that he intends to sign it.
- The petition reportedly crossed 115,000 signatures by November 14, including thousands of current and former NVIDIA employees and shareholders.
- Other prominent technology leaders, including Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, Replit CEO Amjad Masad and Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, have also emerged as supporters.
- NVIDIA appointed CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO following Huang’s November 12 resignation, while the board begins searching for a permanent successor.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has joined the growing calls for Jensen Huang’s return as NVIDIA’s chief executive, publicly expressing support for an online petition seeking the reinstatement of the company’s co-founder.
Musk made his position known through a post on X on November 13, writing, “A petition is underway to reinstate Jensen and I’m signing it too.” His statement came amid growing discussions within the technology industry following Huang’s sudden departure from the leadership of one of the world’s most influential artificial intelligence companies.
The petition reportedly attracted more than 115,000 signatures by Saturday afternoon, November 14, reflecting the level of support among employees, shareholders and members of the wider technology community.
Petition Crosses 115,000 Signatures
According to TechCrunch, the petition’s website reported that its supporters included 5,965 current NVIDIA employees, 1,108 former employees and 63,063 shareholders.
Several prominent technology executives have also been associated with the campaign. These include Elon Musk, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, Replit CEO Amjad Masad and Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan.
The petition argues that Huang should be given an opportunity to return while an independent investigation establishes the circumstances surrounding his departure.
It also calls on NVIDIA’s board to provide greater transparency and ensure a fair investigation into the developments that led to the leadership change.
The growing support highlights the importance Huang holds within NVIDIA, where he has been closely associated with the company’s technological direction and expansion over more than three decades.
Why Did Jensen Huang Leave NVIDIA?
On November 12, 2026, NVIDIA announced that Jensen Huang had resigned as president, CEO and a member of its board, effective immediately.
The departure followed reports surrounding alleged extramarital relationships, including allegations involving a Singapore-based technology executive suspected by US intelligence officials of having links to Chinese intelligence.
The allegations have not been established as proven espionage, and China has denied the spying claims.
NVIDIA’s board also initiated an independent investigation into whether Huang had been targeted through a foreign intelligence operation.
The sudden leadership change attracted considerable attention because Huang had led NVIDIA since co-founding the company in 1993. Under his leadership, NVIDIA evolved from a graphics processing company into a major supplier of chips and computing infrastructure powering the global artificial intelligence industry.
Colette Kress Takes Over as Interim CEO
Following Huang’s departure, NVIDIA appointed its longtime Chief Financial Officer, Colette Kress, as interim CEO.
Kress joined NVIDIA in September 2013 and has overseen the company’s financial operations during a period of substantial expansion.
She will continue serving as CFO while taking on the interim leadership responsibilities. NVIDIA’s board has confirmed that it will consider both internal and external candidates while searching for a permanent successor.
The company has also stated that its operations, customer commitments and product roadmap are expected to continue without interruption.
What Does This Mean for NVIDIA?
The petition introduces another dimension to NVIDIA’s ongoing leadership transition, with employees, shareholders and prominent technology figures expressing their views on the company’s future direction.
Huang’s influence over NVIDIA extends beyond his position as CEO. His leadership has been closely linked to the company’s expansion in accelerated computing, graphics processing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
However, public support for his reinstatement does not mean that the board has agreed to reverse its decision or that Huang will return.
For now, Colette Kress remains at the helm as interim CEO, while NVIDIA’s board considers its next leadership steps.
With the petition attracting significant attention and prominent technology executives joining the discussion, the question of whether Jensen Huang could return to NVIDIA is becoming an important development to watch across the global technology industry.
Sources
- TechCrunch – Elon Musk, Other Tech Execs Sign Petition Calling on NVIDIA to Reinstate Jensen Huang
- NVIDIA – Official CEO Transition Announcement
- SEC – NVIDIA Regulatory Filing
- NDTV – Elon Musk Backs Move to Reinstate Jensen Huang
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and is not investment advice.
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