Jensen Huang Faces Second Affair Allegation As Chinese Spy Honeytrap Investigation Intensifies

Fresh Relationship Allegation Puts Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Under Spotlight Amid Spy Probe

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is facing renewed scrutiny after a report alleged that he had another extramarital relationship, this time with Kimberly Powell, the company’s vice-president of healthcare. The latest claim has emerged as the chipmaker’s board examines Huang’s reported association with a woman US officials have identified as a Chinese intelligence operative.

A report by The New York Times, citing five people at Nvidia, said Huang and Powell were allegedly involved in a relationship. Two sources claimed that a video captured the pair behaving affectionately at a hotel in San Jose, California, during an Nvidia conference in March. The newspaper, however, said it had not viewed the footage. Both Huang, 63, and Powell, 48, are married to other people.

The alleged relationship has reportedly been discussed among Nvidia employees.

When the newspaper contacted Huang by phone on Wednesday to ask about Powell, he reportedly replied, “I don’t think you should be talking to me directly,” and ended the conversation.

Nvidia did not offer a comment on the allegations. Powell also did not immediately respond to the newspaper’s request for a response.

Kimberly Powell’s role at Nvidia

Powell joined Nvidia in 2008 and leads the company’s work on applying its chip technology in healthcare and higher education. Her responsibilities include a particular focus on medical imaging devices, according to Nvidia’s website.

She is a Boston University graduate and attended the MIT Sloan School of Management in 2007.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Powell became senior director of artificial intelligence business development in 2016 before moving into the role of vice-president of healthcare by late 2017. She has also represented Nvidia at technology events and conferences internationally.

At Nvidia’s annual GTC developer conference in San Jose in March, Powell spoke about the ways artificial intelligence could contribute to developments in healthcare and biology. Her presentation reportedly featured cartoon illustrations of Huang.

The allegations have also brought the company’s workplace rules into focus. Nvidia’s code of conduct asks employees to avoid conflicts of interest arising from personal relationships and states that complaints of misconduct are investigated promptly. Many organisations have restrictions on relationships between managers and employees who report directly to them. Powell reportedly reported to Huang.

Board investigation amid Chinese intelligence allegations

Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and helped turn it into a major global supplier of artificial intelligence chips.

The scrutiny surrounding his personal life intensified after The New York Times reported last month that US officials had identified Alice Huang, an executive close to him, as an alleged Chinese intelligence asset.

After Huang acknowledged the affair earlier this month, Nvidia’s board initiated an investigation, appointing law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to lead the inquiry.

Separately, Republican leaders of three influential committees in the US House of Representatives have requested a closed-door briefing with Huang about his interactions with Alice Huang.

Beijing has dismissed the espionage allegations, while Alice Huang has not responded to requests for comment, according to the report.