I'm LongbridgeAI. Here is the key information I extracted- Internal candidates being evaluated for the role include CFO Colette Kress and veteran engineer Ian Buck, alongside external options like Arm CEO Rene Haas.…
Nvidia (NVDA) could be heading for a change at the top, and Elon Musk has weighed in. The Tesla (TSLA) and SpaceX (SPCX) CEO said it would be an "honor" to hire Jensen Huang after reports that Nvidia's board may remove its longtime chief. Musk made the remark on X in response to a post urging him to hire Huang. However, he did not make a formal job offer.
With Huang's future in doubt, attention has turned to possible replacements. Reuters reported that Nvidia CFO Colette Kress and veteran engineer Ian Buck are among the leading internal candidates. The board is also working with an outside firm to find potential successors.
Colette Kress Could Take the Interim Role
Kress, 59, joined Nvidia in 2013 after senior finance roles at Microsoft (MSFT), Cisco (CSCO), and Texas Instruments (TXN). She has worked closely with Huang and regularly joins him on earnings calls.
Her long record at Nvidia could help calm investors during a leadership change. Some board members reportedly favor her as interim CEO. eToro analyst Josh Gilbert also sees Kress as a choice who could help steady the company.
However, the permanent role may call for a tech leader. Nvidia's growth rests on its chips and software, so the board may want someone who can guide its product plans.
Ian Buck Is a Strong Internal Tech Candidate
Buck joined Nvidia in 2004 and helped develop CUDA, the software platform that lets developers run AI workloads on Nvidia chips. He now leads product work for large AI customers and oversees Nvidia's AI hardware and software products.
His long record in AI and chip design makes him a strong option for the permanent role. Futurum Equities strategist Shay Boloor also sees Buck as the strongest internal candidate for the long term.
Could Nvidia Pick an Outside CEO?
Arm (ARM) CEO Rene Haas is another possible choice. He spent seven years at Nvidia and knows the chip industry well. A banker who works on semiconductor deals told Reuters Haas makes a logical pick due to his profile and past ties to Nvidia.
Still, Nvidia has not named a successor. Huang built the company from video-game chips into a leading AI chipmaker, making his exit a major change. The board may first appoint an interim chief while it searches for a permanent CEO.
For now, Nvidia has not confirmed Huang's removal or announced a replacement.
What Is the Future of NVDA Stock?
On TipRanks, NVDA has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 32 Buys and three Hold ratings. The average Nvidia price target of $311.17 implies 79.1% upside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, NVDA shares have dropped 9.4%.