Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang is facing new allegations of an extramarital relationship with a senior executive who reports to him.
The claims add to scrutiny of his personal conduct and his leadership of the technology company.
According to a report published on Thursday by The New York Times, five people who previously worked at Nvidia said Huang, 63, had a relationship with Kimberly Powell, 48, the company’s Vice President of Healthcare.
The alleged relationship, which had not been reported before, reportedly took place while both executives were married to other people.
Two former employees told the newspaper that Huang and Powell were seen being affectionate at a hotel in San Jose, California, during Nvidia’s annual developer conference in March.
Three other people briefed on the incident said a bystander recorded the interaction on a mobile phone.
According to the report, Huang’s security personnel noticed the recording and reportedly asked the person to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
The newspaper contacted Huang on Wednesday and asked about his relationship with Powell. He reportedly responded, “I don’t think you should be talking to me directly,” before ending the call.
Nvidia declined to comment, while Powell did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The allegations come amid an existing controversy over Huang’s reported relationship with a Chinese executive, identified by United States intelligence officials as an alleged Chinese intelligence asset.
After an earlier report by the newspaper, Huang acknowledged the affair in a letter to company staff on Sunday.
He also apologised to his wife and children.
“I was unfaithful to my wife,” the Nvidia boss said. “My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”
The embattled CEO has been married to his wife, Lori, for about 40 years.
Republican leaders of three influential committees in the United States House of Representatives have requested a closed-door briefing from Huang over his interactions with the Chinese executive, identified as Alice Huang.
China has denied the espionage allegations.
Powell joined Nvidia in 2008 and was appointed Vice President of Healthcare in 2017. She oversees initiatives that apply the company’s artificial intelligence and chip technology to healthcare and higher education.
The report also noted that Nvidia’s code of conduct requires employees to avoid situations that create conflicts of interest, including personal relationships.
The development adds to scrutiny of Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has led its rise into a major supplier of artificial intelligence chips.
