New Delhi: Nvidia is reportedly weighing both internal and external candidates as it searches for a permanent successor to longtime CEO Jensen Huang, with three executives of Indian origin emerging among the possible contenders for the top position. Industry reports indicate that Sanjay Mehrotra, Nikesh Arora, and Thomas Kurian are included in the wider list of potential technology leaders being discussed for the role.
The board has initially appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO following Huang's departure. The incoming chief executive will inherit a company situated at the heart of the global artificial intelligence boom, as Nvidia's hardware powers AI systems utilized by tech companies worldwide.
Among the candidates of Indian origin, Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra is being mentioned due to his extensive semiconductor industry experience and Micron's business relationships with Nvidia. Mehrotra has led Micron since 2017 and previously co-founded SanDisk. Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora has also been floated by investors for the position, bringing broad management experience from prior roles at SoftBank and Google, though his background is primarily in cybersecurity rather than chip design. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian is another figure in the running, valued for his oversight of cloud infrastructure and enterprise software, despite also lacking a direct background in semiconductor design.
Several other notable industry figures have surfaced in succession discussions. Internal candidate Colette Kress brings deep financial familiarity with the firm, while Nvidia Vice-President Ian Buck is recognized for his long tenure and involvement in developing the CUDA software platform. Other semiconductor and tech leaders mentioned in reports include Arm CEO Rene Haas, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, AMD head Lisa Su, Marvell Technology CEO Matt Murphy, and Apple hardware chief Johny Srouji. Additionally, former Apple CEO Tim Cook's name has surfaced in connection with the leadership discussions.
Finding a replacement for Huang presents significant challenges, as the next leader must sustain Nvidia's rapid expansion while addressing intensifying competition, export restrictions, geopolitical tensions, and scrutiny over major AI investments. The ultimate decision by the board will shape the future trajectory of one of the most influential entities in the global technology landscape.